India, Sept. 30 -- India isn't just another stop on Jon Batiste's upcoming global tour. Ahead of his maiden performance in the country, the Grammy and Oscar-winning musician traces the long-standing connect he has with India. "I was exposed to Indian music and culture early during my childhood in Louisiana, US. My father had a friend who was born in India; he would often host cultural events and invite musicians from the country," Jon recalls, adding, "I got a sense of Indian music from him. It was also where I first saw the tabla, aged 7 or 8." The jazz musician tells us that excitement is mounting as he prepares to perform in Delhi and Mumbai in November. "India has such a special culture; I'm very inspired by the thought of performing alone on stage with just my piano, surrounded by the audience for my first time in the country." Jon goes on to reveal that his arrangement of What a Wonderful World - a fusion of jazz and Indian classical music - will definitely be on his India setlist. As the conversation flows towards the similarities between Indian classical and jazz, the 38-year-old points out that these aren't just surface level. "It's important to play the track here. My rendition was influenced by Indian music - blending it with jazz gave the lyrics a new perspective," he ends....