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SsingSsing performs a Tiny Desk Conert on June 27, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR) Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk Playlists

The 5 Best-Dressed Tiny Desk Concerts

March 25, 2020 • From gender-bending bling and a sharply-tailored pink suit to orange plaid and a classic black overcoat, these performers classed up the Tiny Desk

The laboriously-delayed Eternal Atake finally delivered big time for Lil Uzi Vert fans. Erika Goldring/FilmMagic/Getty Images hide caption

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All Songs Considered

Heat Check: Homecoming

March 9, 2020 • Lil Uzi Vert's audible adrenaline, Stove God Cooks' anamorphic flow, Emma-Jean Thackray's jazz shade and Megan Thee Stallion's savage sass. Heat Check doesn't let up.

Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science: Tiny Desk Concert

Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science plays a Tiny Desk Concert (Laura Beltran Villamizar/NPR). Laura Beltran Villamizar/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science: Tiny Desk Concert

March 4, 2020 • The veteran jazz drummer is joined by special guests that include producer and percussionist Kassa Overall and actor Malcolm Jamal Warner, for a potent and deeply moving set.

Arlo Parks' "Eugene" spins a stinging reminder of getting left for convention. Charlie Cummings/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Charlie Cummings/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Heat Check: Répéter, Répéter

February 18, 2020 • Nigerian trap, New York drill, London soul, Chicago dance — this week's Heat Check playlist switches up quick, but keeps the trance consistent.

Victoria Monét melds fantasy with reality for her latest, "Moment." Dana Trippe/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Dana Trippe/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Heat Check: Going All Out

February 10, 2020 • The slow asphyxiation of heartache. The deep resonance of bravado. Heat Check's playlist returns with Victoria Monét, Denzel Curry and Kayla Steen.

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra: Tiny Desk Concert

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra performs during tiny desk on December, 4, 2019. (Photo by Mhari Shaw/NPR) Mhari Shaw/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra: Tiny Desk Concert

February 7, 2020 • Here's a first: Steelpans at the Tiny Desk. It's true. Nearly a thousand performances into the series and the instrument has never been featured, until now.

Jordan Rakei performs during Tiny Desk on Nov. 15 2019. (Photo by Mhari Shaw/NPR) Mhari Shaw/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

Jordan Rakei: Tiny Desk Concert

January 13, 2020 • Despite some unexpected gear problems, the soulful R&B artist and his band locked-in and played a phenomenal set behind the Tiny Desk.

Toast Of The Nation 2020: The Jazz Collective Edition

The SFJAZZ Collective, performing live from the Robert N. Miner Auditorium in San Francisco. Don Dixon/SFJAZZ hide caption

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Toast Of The Nation

Toast Of The Nation 2020: The Jazz Collective Edition

WBGO and Jazz At Lincoln Center

December 26, 2019 • Jazz Night in America's Christian McBride hosts this special, ringing in the New Year with four hours of jazz from the SFJAZZ Collective, Carlos Henriquez and more.

The SFJAZZ Collective

58:59

Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/787762117/790738657" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Leslie Odom Jr. plays a Tiny Desk Concert Ben de la Cruz/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

Leslie Odom Jr.: Tiny Desk Concert

November 12, 2019 • The Tony- and Grammy-winning singer, actor, author and Hamilton star performs three songs from Mr, his genre-bending new solo album.

How Ella Fitzgerald Turned Forgotten Lyrics Into One Of Her Best Performances Ever

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NPR

Jazz Night In America

How Ella Fitzgerald Turned Forgotten Lyrics Into One Of Her Best Performances Ever

September 6, 2019 • Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife is master class in why Fitzgerald is such a legend. Jazz Night In America breaks down the grace under pressure and improvisational skills on display in this performance.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard plays a Tiny Desk Concert on June 4, 2019 (Shuran Huang/NPR). Shuran Huang/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

Tasha Cobbs Leonard: Tiny Desk Concert

June 24, 2019 • Tasha Cobbs Leonard is widely regarded as one of the best gospel singers performing today. Her set at the Tiny Desk moved many at the NPR offices to tears.

Karine Polwart Trio performs a Tiny Desk Concert on March 22, 2019 (Amr Alfiky/NPR). Amr Alfiky/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

Karine Polwart Trio: Tiny Desk Concert

April 10, 2019 • Scottish singer, songwriter and essayist Karine Polwart seldom comes stateside, eschewing air travel to reduce her carbon footprint. But on a rare, recent visit, she stopped in D.C. for a Tiny Desk.

The Nicholas Payton Trio performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Oct. 10, 2018. (Cameron Pollack/NPR) Cameron Pollack/NPR/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

Nicholas Payton Trio: Tiny Desk Concert

November 2, 2018 • After back-to-back performances in South Africa, Argentina, Chile and New York, Payton hit the Tiny Desk, where he dazzled the audience, simultaneously playing his trumpet and a Fender Rhodes.

Cécile McLorin Salvant: Tiny Desk Concert

Cécile McLorin Salvant performs a Tiny Desk concert on August 8, 2018. (Samantha Clark/NPR) Samantha Clark/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

Cécile McLorin Salvant: Tiny Desk Concert

September 25, 2018 • The jazz singer, who used to be into radical feminist punk, now composes and sings beautiful jazz ballads.

Helen Sung Spins Dana Gioia's Poetry Into Jazz On 'Sung With Words'

Helen Sung's Sung With Words comes out Sept. 14. Yasunari Rowan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Review

First Listen

Helen Sung Spins Dana Gioia's Poetry Into Jazz On 'Sung With Words'

September 6, 2018 • The pianist merges jazz and poetry together to make a multi-movement work that explores themes of the human condition.