After 11 Years on The Late Show, Jon Lampley Releases Career-Defining Album ‘Notes To Self’

JON LAMPLEY
RELEASES 10-TRACK SOLO ALBUM
NOTES TO SELF
— A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE BEYOND THE LATE SHOW —
OUT TODAY, JUNE 26

FOCUS TRACK
“JOY”
 FEATURING CORY WONG

“a joyous soul-pop record called ‘Notes to Self’…on the album, the trumpeter levels up as a singer and front man.”
— Mark Yarm, The New Yorker, May 4, 2026

NASHVILLE, TN (June 26, 2026) — With The Late Show with Stephen Colbert having recently come to a close after more than a decade on air, Jon Lampley is stepping fully into the spotlight with Notes To Self, his sophomore solo album, out today. After 11 years as a core member of the show’s house band, the album serves as a deeply personal statement and marks Lampley’s arrival as a frontman, pairing introspective songwriting with the virtuosity, joy, and communal energy that have defined his career. Produced by Lampley, The Diner (Jordan Cohen, Clyde Lawrence, Jonny Koh), and Michael Thurber, Notes To Self showcases his extraordinary musical vision, a rare blend of technical mastery, boundless creativity, and soulful expression.

STREAM NOTES TO SELF HERE. 

Already recognized by NPR, which praised his solo debut Night Service: Live at LunÀtico (2024) as “so joyful,” and featured in The New York Times for his preparation and artistry on The Late Show, Lampley also drew early praise from The New Yorker, which described Notes To Self as “a joyous soul-pop record” and noted that “the trumpeter levels up as a singer and front man.” Lampley brings both established credibility and a compelling narrative question to this new project: what comes next when the stage you’ve stood on nightly for years is no longer the center of your life?

Building on the foundation of his acclaimed debut, which introduced Lampley as a confident frontman and bandleader in his own right, Notes To Self expands that vision into a more personal, studio-driven statement. Where Night Service captured the immediacy of live communal performance, this new record reflects a deeper inward turn that balances reflection, ambition, and artistic self-definition.

Alongside the album release, Lampley spotlights the project’s focus track, “JOY,” a soulful, celebratory anthem featuring Cory Wong that captures the record’s overarching spirit of optimism, reflection, and community. Lampley describes the song as a personal mantra, guiding him to approach each day with gratitude and purpose.

Previously released singles from the project include “Greener” (March 13), the album’s lead single exploring ambition and growth through infectious grooves, soaring trumpet lines, reflective songwriting, and a surprise cameo from Stephen Colbert, and Lampley’s soulful interpretation of “Dock of the Bay” (May 8), recorded with Clyde and Gracie Lawrence and Late Show bandleader Louis Cato as a deeply personal tribute to both Otis Redding and his father’s musical influence.

“Greener” arrived alongside a cinematic music video that brings its themes vividly to life. Using split-screen imagery and shifting palettes of color and sepia tones, the visual contrasts moments of confidence and doubt as Lampley portrays dual versions of himself. The video was produced and written by Jon Lampley and Warren Tyler Ward, directed, filmed, and edited by Warren Tyler Ward, with filming assistance by Miguel Cevallos. Together, “Greener” and “Dock of the Bay” highlight the album’s themes of personal growth, gratitude, friendship, and the enduring power of community and soul music.

WATCH THE “GREENER” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO BELOW:

That spirit of generosity and musical community was recently on display during The Late Show’s season finale on May 21, when Paul McCartney borrowed Lampley’s trumpet to play “When the Saints Go Marching In.” After McCartney shared that his father had bought him a trumpet as a child, Lampley immediately offered his own instrument, creating a spontaneous moment that reflected the same sense of connection and collaboration that runs throughout Notes To Self. Watch the special interaction here.

Written largely from a first-person perspective, the album functions as a series of reflections on ambition, optimism, relationships, faith, and growth. Lampley identifies tracks that resonate deeply with him personally: “‘Greener,’ ‘JOY,’ and ‘Maybe’ resonate with me most. ‘JOY’ feels like a personal mantra, guiding me to approach each day with optimism and gratitude. ‘Maybe’ is the most vulnerable, exploring a shift in faith from one rooted in morality and guilt to one grounded in grace, curiosity, and vulnerability.”

Arriving on the heels of The Late Show’s conclusion, the album feels less like a pivot than a culmination. “The timing is certainly serendipitous,” Lampley says. “I believe in everything happening when, and as, it’s supposed to.” Ultimately, the album serves as a clear statement of intent: “I’m ready to be at the front of something, not just considered a side project, and to make songs about the human experience that allow us all to feel a little more in community with each other,” he concludes.

NOTES TO SELF TRACKLISTING
“Unnecessarily Soulful Intro”
“On Your Mind”
“Greener”
“Believe In Me”
“Unnecessary Soulful Interlude”
“JOY” ft. Cory Wong
“Try It Again”
“Maybe”
“Dock Of The Bay” ft. Lawrence and Louis Cato
“Unnecessarily Soulful Outro”

Above: Jon Lampley; Credit: Clay Rodriguez 

ABOUT JON LAMPLEY:
Jon Lampley is a trumpeter, sousaphonist, vocalist, songwriter, composer, and bandleader whose work spans modern jazz, soul, gospel, and contemporary roots music. Drawing from the expressive lineage of Louis Armstrong and Roy Hargrove, and the soul traditions of Sam Cooke and D’Angelo, his music balances jazz virtuosity with gospel-rooted emotional clarity.

For over a decade, Lampley was a core member of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert house band, performing nightly under Jon Batiste and later Louis Cato. The experience placed him on a global stage and shaped a performance style defined by precision, responsiveness, and emotional immediacy.

Beyond late-night television, he has established himself as one of the most versatile brass players of his generation. He co-founded the jazz-funk ensemble Huntertones and has toured internationally with artists including O.A.R. and Lake Street Dive, moving fluidly between jazz, rock, and soul-driven performance environments.

Raised in Akron, Ohio, Lampley’s earliest musical foundation came through church, where he first learned trumpet by ear. That environment shaped his understanding of music as something communal and expressive — less about technical display than emotional transmission and shared experience.

He later performed with The Ohio State University Marching Band, developing the discipline, stamina, and ensemble awareness that continue to define his musicianship. After relocating to Brooklyn, New York, his artistic identity fully crystallized with Night Service: Live at LunÀtico (2024), which introduced him as a confident frontman and bandleader in his own right.

With Notes To Self (2026), Lampley expands that foundation into a more personal and reflective studio statement — one that deepens his transition from celebrated sideman to frontman while centering themes of ambition, gratitude, faith, and human connection.

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