By Jonathan Landrum Jr., Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --Jon Batiste is still putting in some Grammy work: The multi-talented performer will kick off a series geared toward public and educational programs in New York City next month.
The Grammy Museum announced Thursday that Batiste will perform during a series titled "A New York Evening with Jon Batiste." He'll hit the stage on June 17 at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.
Batiste will be the first performer as part of the museum's six-part series. His performance comes after he collected five trophies including album of the year for "We Are" at the Grammy Awards in April.
The museum will partner with the New York mayor's office to bring educational programming with two summer sessions. It'll be free five-day songwriting workshops for students currently enrolled in high school.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he's thrilled about the partnership.
"These efforts align perfectly, not only with our vision to support future musicians who might one day contribute to New York City's creative economy," he said in a statement.
The programs will run through the end of this year at various venues in the city. The other five programs and performers will be announced at a later date.
Forty slots will be available for students during the summer sessions, which will be held the weeks of July 11 and July 18. Each week-long session will take place at CUNY Graduate Center and free of charge to students.
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More