Jon Batiste has never been interested in preserving music behind glass, and on Black Mozart he brings one of history's most celebrated composers into an entirely new conversation. The second installment in his Batiste Piano Series finds the multi-Grammy and Academy Award-winning pianist reimagining the timeless melodies of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through the lens of Black American classical music. Rather than treating these works as untouchable masterpieces, Batiste allows them to breathe, evolve, and speak in a new musical language.

Drawing from jazz, ragtime, stride piano, blues, and stomps, Black Mozart reshapes familiar themes into something fresh without losing sight of what made them endure in the first place. His playing moves effortlessly between precision and spontaneity, honoring Mozart's gift for melody while injecting each piece with the rhythmic vitality and emotional depth that have defined generations of Black American music.

What makes Black Mozart so compelling is the way Batiste uncovers fresh meaning in familiar compositions. His interpretations bridge centuries of musical evolution, connecting Mozart's timeless melodies with the improvisation, swing, and soul that have shaped Black American music.

Black Mozart is only part of Batiste's latest creative output. Alongside it, he's released Monk Meditations: Batiste Piano Series Vol. 3 and Monk Movements: Batiste Piano Series Vol. 4, shifting his attention from Mozart to another musical giant, Thelonious Monk. Together, the three albums continue Batiste's exploration of the piano's rich history, reimagining iconic composers through his own boundless creativity and unmistakable voice.