Latest news with #TinyDesk
Black America Web
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Alex Isley Makes Her Long-Awaited Tiny Desk Debut With Grace & Soul
Source: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty After delivering a memorable Tiny Desk (home) concert in 2020, Alex Isley has finally stepped into NPR's iconic office space for a full-circle performance that was both intimate and transformative. Read more and watch the performance inside. As part of this year's Black Music Month celebration, which honors landmark albums and artists shaping culture, Isley's in-person Tiny Desk debut felt like a homecoming. It wasn't just for her, but for the fans who've followed her ethereal sound for years. The Los Angeles native and daughter of Ernie Isley from the legendary Isley Brothers, entered the Tiny Desk with quiet reverence, preserving her voice and energy until the lights dimmed and the music began. The result was a meditative and magnetic performance that captivated from the very first note. She kicked things off with 'Mic On,' a vibrant, outside-the-box opener that nodded to her musical lineage and set the tone for a beautiful set. Backed by longtime friend and music director DeShaun Allen, who reimagined her signature tracks with fresh arrangements, Isley's set was both familiar and freshly invigorating. Highlights included lush renditions of fan favorites like 'About Him,' 'Love Again,' and 'Into Orbit,' where her soft, buttery vocals floated over a tight live band and harmonies from vocalists Nelson Beato, Astyn Turr, and Muhsinah. A special surprise came when Masego joined her onstage for his verse on their joint track 'Good & Plenty,' sparking one of the loudest reactions from the crowd. The chemistry between the two was undeniable, amplifying the performance's emotional core. The set concluded with 'Thank You for a Lovely Time,' the final track from her recent EP WHEN , bringing the audience to a quiet hush. It was a tender close to a show filled with thoughtful artistry, intentional arrangements, and soulful expression. This Tiny Desk performance was a moment. One that affirmed Alex Isley's place in the lineage of quiet storm R&B innovators, and a reminder of how powerfully softness can resonate. As Black Music Month continues, Isley's performance stands out as a glowing tribute to the genre's evolving sound and deep emotional well. SEE ALSO Alex Isley Makes Her Long-Awaited Tiny Desk Debut With Grace & Soul was originally published on
UPI
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Watch: Alex Isley performs 'Good & Plenty' at Tiny Desk concert
1 of 3 | Alex Isley arrives on the red carpet for BET Awards on June 9. NPR released her Tiny Desk Concert performance on Monday. Photo by Greg Grudt/UPI | License Photo June 23 (UPI) -- Alex Isley performed her hit "Good & Plenty" for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series in a new episode released Monday. She invited singer and musician Masego to join her on that song, which dropped in 2020. "I shot a Tiny Desk at home in 2020, so to be here in the office is just magical. I'm happy to be here, and celebrating the release of my new EP When, but also celebrating 10 years of my album Luxury," Isley said. When dropped April 18, and Isley performed "Mic On" and "Thank You for a Lovely Time" from the EP. She performed "La Brea," from Luxury. Her set list also included "Into Orbit," "Love Again," "Mine," "About Him" and "Hands." Isley was joined by background vocalists Nelson Beato, Astyn Turr and Muhsinah, and DeShaun Allen on drums. Jay Rojas played guitar, with Dre Pinckney on bass and Darek Cobbs on the keyboard. Isley, 38, is the daughter of the Isley Brothers' Ernie Isley. NPR is spotlighting Black music artists in June's Tiny Desks for their Black Music Month.
Black America Web
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
CeCe Winans Brings Gospel Power to NPR's Tiny Desk for Black Music Month
Source: Terry Wyatt / Getty Gospel icon CeCe Winans brought the spirit to NPR's Tiny Desk stage with a moving medley of her most beloved songs, turning the intimate setting into a soul-stirring worship experience. The special performance was part of NPR's Black Music Month celebration, which honors groundbreaking albums that have left a lasting imprint on music and culture. Winans' 1995 album Alone in His Presence , celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, was a defining moment in gospel music and continues to resonate across generations. NPR's Ashley Pointer praised Winans for her unmatched vocal power and ability to transcend boundaries. 'CeCe Winans' voice transcends genre, race, and generations, something incredibly rare in the gospel and Christian music realms,' she wrote. RELATED: Classic Gospel Songs That Still Excite The Black Church Her Tiny Desk set included a mix of fan favorites and deeply spiritual anthems. The call-and-response energy of 'Pray' brought instant joy, while the crowd audibly gasped at the first notes of 'Alabaster Box,' a track known for its emotional depth and powerful storytelling. The performance concluded with a heartfelt sing-along to 'Goodness of God,' a modern worship classic that underscored Winans' lasting connection with audiences. More than a nostalgic trip through her catalog, the performance was a celebration of Winans' legacy as one of gospel music's most influential voices. As NPR continues to spotlight the sounds that have shaped Black music history, CeCe Winans' enduring presence stands as a testament to the timeless power of faith-filled artistry. Check out the performance below: SEE ALSO CeCe Winans Brings Gospel Power to NPR's Tiny Desk for Black Music Month was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
San Francisco Chronicle
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bay Area legend gets the national spotlight on NPR's ‘Tiny Desk' concert series
E-40 is commemorating the 30th anniversary of his breakthrough album, 'In A Major Way,' in — well, a major way. The Vallejo rapper recently made an appearance on NPR's 'Tiny Desk,' bringing the sounds of the hyphy movement to the nation's capital to help kick off Black Music Month. During the nearly 30-minute performance on the popular YouTube concert series, released Monday, June 2, E-40 delivered hits from across his discography — from 1994's 'Captain Save a Hoe' to 2006's 'U and Dat' and 2014's 'Choices (Yup)' — while backed by a live band. A pioneer in the Bay Area rap scene who played a significant role in popularizing the hyphy movement, a style of uptempo, 'hyperactive' hip-hop music, E-40 was invited to join former President Joe Biden during a post-debate rally, performed at the NBA All-Star Game when it was held in San Francisco earlier this year and even has a road in his hometown named after him. Most recently, he spent Memorial Day weekend in Wine Country for two BottleRock Napa Valley performances. He also filmed a still-to-be-released episode of the ABC game show 'Celebrity Family Feud' alongside fellow Bay Area rapper Too Short and Atlanta rapper Lil Jon. Season 12 of the show is set to premiere July 10. E-40's guest performance comes shortly after San Lorenzo native Ruby Ibarra performed on the NPR show, after winning the 2025 'Tiny Desk' contest in May. Ibarra beat out nearly 7,500 other artist submissions with a performance of her latest single, 'Bakunawa.' As her prize, she got to film an intimate ' Tiny Desk' concert, released Thursday, May 29, and is now set to headline 'Tiny Desk' contest's On The Road Tour, which begins Wednesday, June 11, at the Regent Theater in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, E-40 is also planning some live performances following his 'Tiny Desk' concert. He is set to headline the fifth annual Mare Island Dock of Bay Festival in his hometown of Vallejo on Sept. 6. Other local rappers such as LaRussell, Baby Bash and Con Funk Shun are also scheduled to perform.
Los Angeles Times
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
L.A.'s answer to Tiny Desk is hiding inside Mercado La Paloma
Yesi Ortiz has been chasing a sense of home ever since her mixed-status family was forced to bounce between Southern California, Las Vegas and Baja California, Mexico. Now, the former radio host of L.A.'s hip-hop station Power 106-FM and cast member of VH1 series 'Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood' is building that home herself — by transforming a Historic South-Central food hall with a Michelin-star pedigree into a DIY concert venue. There, she hosts what's known simply as 'The Rehearsal.' (Because it must be said: No, it's not related to Nathan Fielder's HBO series of the same name.) The Rehearsal, which opened its sixth season last month at Mercado La Paloma, is a live showcase for young musical talent hoping to be seen and for seasoned musicians who want to try out new material in front of an audience. It's also streamed live on Twitch and YouTube each Friday night. Ortiz and her team describe it as the kind of show 'you go to find the real ones before they break.' 'I love the Tiny Desk comparison because that's what Tiny Desk used to be: a place to find undiscovered talent,' Rehearsal co-founder Levi Downey explained. 'I still love it, but it's not that anymore.' Downey said NPR Music's flagship video series has increasingly catered more to established talent, like gospel singer Marvin Sapp, and superstars such as Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter and Billie Eilish. For Ortiz, the Rehearsal represents something even deeper: a culmination of decades spent navigating survival, sacrifice and ambition. 'I spent a lot of my life basically chasing jobs because I had a family to take care of,' recalled Ortiz, who adopted her seven nieces and nephews when she was in her early 20s. 'I had seven kids, my mom, my sister, my brother, my stepdad and my dad, who was in a nursing care facility, who all depended on me. If I need to go work a red carpet so I can get a check, I'm making that happen. If I need to move to Tijuana, I'm making that happen.' After almost 20 years raising a family while hosting radio shows, reality shows, talk shows and red carpets, Ortiz said the Rehearsal finally feels like she's gotten to where she was meant to be. 'I love music,' she said. 'I want to represent my community. I want to represent my people, and that's all I want to do. I get to do that with [the Rehearsal].' According to Ortiz, the idea to create a space for 'real ones' was born in the spring of 2022 as a counter to L.A.'s notoriously predatory 'pay-to-play' live music scene. Pay-to-play is a custom where fledgling artists are given a set number of tickets they have for pre-sale in order to perform at a venue. Any tickets they don't sell come out of the artists' own pocket. In these kinds of deals, artists hardly get a share in any ticket sales. 'I was managing this musician and she was like, 'I just want to perform onstage,'' Ortiz said. 'But the way live music in L.A. works for up-and-coming artists is you have to essentially pay venues to perform there.' Ortiz partnered with music producer David Tam to turn her Boyle Heights backyard into a showcase for undiscovered talent. 'That first show was a disaster,' she recalled. Yet from that show, Ortiz and Tam connected with like-minded musicians, such as Downey and Shani Gaines-Bernard, the niece of disco legend Donna Summer, to create the Rehearsal. 'It feels like a watering hole,' Gaines-Bernard said. 'Artists come to [the Rehearsal] to drink and to showcase their stuff. Industry people who are looking for new artists come to this watering hole to discover that. There are people that come because they love the vibe. Everyone's coming to be nourished from this watering hole.' In the summer of 2023, Ortiz and her team partnered with Mercado La Paloma to premiere the revamped Rehearsal. In 2024, Mercado La Paloma became best known for its Michelin-star-winning ceviche counter Holbox — and rightly so. Chef Gilberto Cetina Jr. and his brigade of talented line cooks make an uni-topped ceviche tostada that make the finest caviar blinis seem like Cheese Whiz on Ritz crackers. But Ortiz pointed out that Mercado La Paloma has always been a place to find community. The Mercado was founded some 30 years ago by Mexican immigrants who missed the beloved open-air markets of their hometowns. These days — at least on Friday nights — the space offers musicians an equitable spotlight. Ortiz is no stranger to chasing stardom herself. After moonlighting in the music world while working full time as a nurse, Ortiz got her first break hosting a Latin hip-hop show in Las Vegas, then worked stints on music radio stations in Tijuana and San Diego. She eventually landed a hit show on Power 106-FM, L.A.'s No. 1 hip-hop station; for several years, Ortiz led the midday airwaves with her 'New at Two' segment, where she would introduce new music from established artists and underground artists that had not broken into the mainstream yet. 'My first day on Power, the music director comes in and he's like, 'So I know it's your first day. Congratulations. You're interviewing Sean Paul in 10 minutes.'' Ortiz recalled. 'I was like, 'Wait, what? Hold on!'' She parlayed her radio success into TV notoriety, starring in the first season of 'Love & Hip Hop' and hosting an entertainment segment on 'The Talk.' Ortiz said she was on a mission to be 'the female Ryan Seacrest, because he had lots of jobs.' Yet these days, she is much more comfortable working with her team to foster the next generation of talent with the Rehearsal. And she hopes it grows to multiple venues, cities and even countries. 'That's the goal. Just to make a bigger space for more artists. But without losing the intimacy of it,' she said. 'We like how it's small and mighty. But hopefully we can scale that organically.'
