Shakti NPR Tiny Desk Concert (2023)

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Here is Hussain reuniting with jazz guitarist John McLaughlin for their project Shakti at NPR’s Tiny Desk.

NPR’s Felix Contreras says:

“It's hard to get past the significance of this performance by the Indian jazz fusion band, Shakti. Initially formed in 1973 by jazz guitarist John McLaughlin with virtuoso traditional Indian musicians, the band opened the doors for others to expand their musical appreciation beyond Western music. 50 years later, as guitarist McLaughlin reunites with tabla player Zakir Hussain to take Shakti on another world tour, the group stopped by for a magically inspiring performance behind the Tiny Desk.”

Setlist:

  1. "Shrini's Dream"

  2. "Lotus Feet"

  3. "Bending the Rules"

Players:

  • John McLaughlin: guitar

  • Zakir Hussain: tabla

  • Selvaganesh Vinayakaram: kanjira, ghatam

  • Shankar Mahadevan: vocals

  • Ganesh Rajagopalan: violin

  • Visit Zakir Hussain’s official website

  • Follow Zakir Hussain on Facebook

  • Purchase Zakir Hussain’s music at Amazon

  • Listen to “Raga Kedar: Gat In Ektaal” by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma & Ustad Zakir Hussain on Episode 17 of the Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Superhsow.

Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Zakir Hussain: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert (2010)

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As we continue to mourn Zakir Hussain, we also celebrate his life and legacy through the wonderful music he left us. Wildly innovative and a master of his craft Hussain often collaborated with unlikely partners, blending musical styles.

One of his better known cross-genre projects was with Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer. The trio stopped by the NPR studios for a Tiny Desk performance in 2010.

Setlist:

  1. "Bubbles"

  2. "Bahar"

  • Visit Zakir Hussain’s official website

  • Follow Zakir Hussain on Facebook

  • Purchase Zakir Hussain’s music at Amazon

  • Listen to “Raga Kedar: Gat In Ektaal” by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma & Ustad Zakir Hussain on Episode 17 of the Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Superhsow.

Deep Sea Diver: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

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Deep Sea Diver recently recreated the Red Room from Twin Peaks for their NPR Tiny Desk concert.

Setlist:

  1. "Impossible Weight"

  2. "Lights Out"

  3. "Wishing"

  4. "Stop Pretending"

Players:

  • Jessica Dobson: vocals, guitar, piano

  • Peter Mansen: drums

  • Elliot Jackson: keys, guitar

  • Elijah Thomson: bass

  • Natalie Schepman: backing vocals

  • Meegan Closner: backing vocals

  • Henry Lee: beagle

Important People and Details:

  • Video: Tyler Kalberg, Luke Dumke, Dylan Priest

  • Audio: Trevor Spencer

TINY DESK TEAM

  • Producer: Marissa Lorusso

  • Video Producer: Maia Stern

  • Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin

  • Associate Producer: Bobby Carter

  • Tiny Production Team: Kara Frame, Bob Boilen, Gabrielle Pierre

  • Executive Producer: Keith Jenkins

  • Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

  • Visit Deep Sea Diver’s website

  • Follow Deep Sea Diver at Facebook

  • Follow Deep Sea Diver at Twitter

  • Purchase Deep Sea Diver’s music at Amazon

Alsarah and The Nubatones: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

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I first encountered Alsarah and The Nubatones when doing the Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow. I immediately fell in love with their music and featured their track "3roos Elneel" on Episode 16 which originally aired September 24, 2018. Back then, I wrote:

According to the group's Facebook page: "Alsarah & The Nubatones came together out of a collective love for Nubian music and a genuine belief that Soul transcends all cultural and linguistic barriers. Inspired by the pentatonic scale they blend a selection of Nubian 'songs of return' from the 1970s-today with original material and traditional music of central Sudan. Their set is a musical journey through diaspora and migration from an urban lense."

NPR adds:

“When singer Alsarah left her native Sudan, she was just a child who'd shown an interest in music. She's said it served as her coping mechanism during a subsequent transition to life here in the U.S. That passion led her to a university degree in ethnomusicology.”

The group stopped by NPR’s Tiny Desk in 2016 for three songs.

Setlist:

  1. "Ya Watan"

  2. "3roos Elneel"

  3. "Fulani"

Players:

  • Alsarah (vocals)

  • Nahid (backing vocals)

  • Rami El Aasser (percussion, backing vocals)

  • Mawuena Kodjovi (bass, backing vocals)

  • Brandon Terzic (oud)

Other Important People:

  • Producers: Felix Contreras, Niki Walker

  • Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin

  • Videographers: Niki Walker, Nicole Boliaux

  • Production Assistant: Jenny Gathright

  • Photo: Raquel Zaldivar/NPR