Roy Ayers: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

March 1, 2018, Abby O Neill Roy Ayers arrived at his Tiny Desk performance beaming with positivity. The 77yearold funk icon and vibraphonist sauntered through the office with a Cheshire grin on his face, sharing jokes with anyone within earshot. Accompanying him was a trio of brilliantly seasoned musicians keyboardist Mark Adams, bassist Trevor Allen and drummer Christopher De Carmine. Later during the performance, pride washed across Ayers face as his bandmates took the spotlight. (Be sure to watch as Adams woos not just the room but brightens Ayers face during his solo. ) The set began with one of Ayers more recognizable hits: an extended version of Searching, a song that embodies the eternal quest for peace and love. During Black Family (from his 1983 album Lots Of Love), you ll hear him call out Fela throughout. That s because Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti was a huge influence on Ayers in the late 1970s; the two eventually collaborated on an album, 1980 s Music Of Many Colors. Black Family