Intro
This is my entry for the #TTT also called the #ThreeTuneTuesday challenge instituted by @ablaze
This week I wanted to talk about the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts. The idea was simple and there have been acts who did not sound that great in this setup. For the most part though these concerts are extremely beautiful, a quieter more musical and soulful version of most bands. I love most of them. Since Shakti just won a Grammy my answer was clear for the first one
NOTE: Tiny Desk Concerts are long but mostly great for atmosphere. My suggestion is bookmark the videos and play it when your are working on something else
Shakti
Shakti is a fantastic Indian classical and western jazz fusion band. As an Indian many would think I would go with Zakhir bhai as my fav from the band. That is not so. Though I love him and his art my favorite Shakti player is John McLaughlin. What a career, what an artist!!! I was lucky to watch the reconstituted Shakti live and it was phenomenal
There are many detractors too, who love the old Shakti to the new one. Maybe they hear better than me. For me each combination of Shakti has rocked. Check out the scope of their sound even within the confines of Tiny Desk Concert Setup.
If you are in a hurry, check out the violin solo around 3:30 mark. And their most famous song is 8:56 mark.
For those interested in a rabbit hole check out the old Shakti too as well as the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Nile Rodgers & CHIC
Speak of huge sounds and funk cannot be too behind. Funk and Disco are some of my favourites, and here Nile Rodgers and his team CHIC rock the Tiny Desk Concert. I don't want to write a lot here as most of you would know the songs. Just put it on and go and get some work done around the house. I am sure you be washing the dishes or doing the laundry with a smile if you have this concert piping through your speakers :)
Hiromi (with Hiromi's Sonicwonder)
Is it soundscape? Is it atmospheric ? Is it music!!! Whatever else you might think about it music it is. I mean it is pure craziness. We have Hiromi playing beautiful piano and then playing with the weirdest sounds from her synth, while the trumpet goes on it's own wild ride. All this while backbeat is beautifully maintained by the rhythm section. At any point we can break into a dance.
When people try new sounds and soundscapes the groove can get lost. This one is groovy and how. Infectiously groovy. Just two songs but both B.I.G
I found them on Tiny Desk and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did
@alessandrawhite this reminded me of our CWH, if all of you every made a band :)
Thank you to NPR for showcasing such wonderful talent in such an accessible manner.
Sources:
All embedded video links are directly linking to the videos on YouTube as uploaded by the copyright holders (NPR Music in this case)