Kassa Overall: Tiny Desk Concert

Suraya Mohamed, April 5, 2023 Kassa Overall is no stranger to NPR. Back in 2020 he was a featured vocalist and percussionist on the Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science Tiny Desk concert and in the same year he scored the original music for the first season of NPR Music s Louder Than A Riot podcast. (His catchy theme song has been remixed by producer Suzi Analogue for the show s second season. ) Now, Kassa s back again, leading his own band and doing what he always does pushing musical boundaries and finding new ways to express himself through a unique blend of experimental hiphopinfused jazz. This Tiny Desk starts with two cuts from ANIMALS, Kassa s May release that will be featured on his upcoming summer tour. On Ready To Ball, pianist Ian Finkelstein opens with a chord progression that signals bebop but quickly moves into a more dynamic, experimental sound with hypnotic meter changes and surprising interludes. Make My Way Back Home is a beautif