Folks typically ask us how we choose artists to play the Desk. It is a difficult reply, however Yu Sakai and the TBN Trio made their means right here by glad coincidence.
Final March, two colleagues and I have been in Tokyo to assist launch Tiny Desk Japan. One afternoon, we have been strolling alongside 1000’s of individuals by means of Shibuya Crossing, which is likely to be the busiest pedestrian intersection on the earth. Think about the percentages that Nate Smith, a celebrated drummer, was there, too. We bumped proper into him, exchanged hellos after which he invited us to see a present he was taking part in the subsequent night.
On the WWWX Shibuya, certainly one of Tokyo’s greatest music areas, we have been mesmerized by the efficiency of those 4 musicians. Takeshi Oybayashi is a soulful pianist who may be very lively on the worldwide jazz scene. Smith, who has a Tiny Desk of his personal, is certainly one of my favourite jazz drummers taking part in in the present day. Bassist Ben Williams, one other Tiny Desk alumnus, is a D.C. native who’s performed with the likes of Pat Metheny and Lauryn Hill.
After which there’s Yu Sakai, whom I found that night time in Tokyo and have become an prompt fan. His efficiency type is so vibrant and his vocal high quality is so distinctive. Sakai loves all types of music — J-pop, gospel, R&B and jazz — which he celebrates with an ebullient power on this Tiny Desk. We expect you may fall in love with him, too.
SET LIST
- “Get It Collectively”
- “Story”
- “Gaze, Daydream”
- “Rose & Rhodes”
- “Sinatra, The Darkness of Cherry Blossom”
MUSICIANS
- Yu Sakai: vocals, keys
- Takeshi Ohbayashi: piano
- Ben Williams: bass
- Nate Smith: drums
TINY DESK TEAM
- Producer: Suraya Mohamed
- Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
- Audio Technical Director: Neil Tevault
- Host/Sequence Producer: Bobby Carter
- Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Body, Maia Stern
- Audio Engineer: Josh Newell
- Manufacturing Assistants: Ashley Pointer, Dora Levite
- Photographer: Zayhra Rodriguez
- Tiny Desk Sequence Editor: Lars Gotrich
- Sequence Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
- VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
