Jon Batiste pays tribute to the late Eddie Palmieri in NYC

Jon Batiste gave a moving tribute to late Latin music icon Eddie Palmieri — who died two weeks ago at the age of 88 of an extended illness — during his concert at Central Park’s SummerStage.

The Grammy-winning artist paid his respects during the finale of his show at Rumsey Playfield, calling up members of Palmieri’s band — including Jeremy Bosch, Louis Fouché and Zaccai Curtis — to perform several songs in celebration of Palmieri’s legacy.

“We need to set the example here tonight,” Batiste told the crowd. “The way that Eddie brought all the music together, all of the styles. Let the music be our teacher for how we can be together in the world. And let this city be the symbol for the rest of the world to see.”

Palmieri, dubbed the “Madman of Salsa,” was known as an innovator in Latin music and helped popularize Afro-Cuban music in New York.

Critic Robert Farris Thompson wrote of Pamieri in 1975: “He blends avant-garde rock, Debussy, John Cage and Chopin without overwhelming the basic Afro-Cuban flavor. A new world music, it might be said, is being born.”

Batiste used the moment as a nod towards world events, encouraging people to come together.

“We are in a time now where persecution around the world is at its highest degree,” he said. “Persecution has no gender, it has no race, it has no class — and it can happen to any one of us.”

He continued: “As we enjoy this music, we should know that this is a time that the Latino community is under persecution — and we are going to dance and send healing vibrations out into the world in the service of love tonight.”

Following the concert, Batiste, along with his band, plus Palmieri’s band and dancers and acrobats from the show, paraded down to the Naumburg Bandshell for an extended jam session.

Batiste has a new album out this week, “Big Money.”