Watch Performances From Tiny Desk Fest

Plus, an interview with ELO's Jeff Lynne and new charges for R. Kelly.

by Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Mhari Shaw/NPR A few weeks ago, we hosted the Tiny Desk Fest here at NPR HQ. Over the course of four nights, we hosted four performances at Bob Boilen’s desk that were open to the public for the very first time. The artists were all a surprise until just before their Tiny Desk concerts began. If you didn’t snag a ticket for the shows, you’re in luck: You can now watch select performances from the Fest on npr.org. Artist-on-the-rise Megan Thee Stallion kicked off the week with a set that proved her star power featuring Tiny Desk alum Phony Ppl as her backing band. The next night, Sheryl Crow performed a 35-minute set (with two unexpected encores) that featured new material and a handful of hits that have become pop standards. (Later, she talked to NPR Music’s Ann Powers about embracing compassion, loving Fleetwood Mac and collaborating with friends like Brandi Carlile and Chuck D; you can hear that conversation on All Songs Considered.)  Raphael Saadiq closed out the Fest with an electrifying performance that included a guest appearance by R&B up-and-comer Lucky Daye. You can also hear Saadiq in conversation with NPR Music's Rodney Carmichael on the origins of D'Angelo's “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” and his experience playing two Tiny Desk concerts 10 years apart. If it makes you happy, Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Newsletter continues after sponsor message Featuring The Electric Light Orchestra, the first album by the then-trio ELO, was released 48 years ago this week. These days, Jeff Lynne is ELO: Except for a few helping hands, Jeff Lynne wrote, recorded, played and arranged everything on his new album, From Out of Nowhere, on his own. Hear his interview with Bob Boilen on this week’s All Songs Considered. Evgeny Pobozhiy, a virtuoso guitarist with a busy profile on the Moscow jazz scene, has won the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Guitar Competition. He joins a who’s who of contemporary jazz greats, including Joshua Redman, Jazzmeia Horn and Cécile McLorin Salvant, who have previously won the competition, which focuses on a different instrument each year. Environmentalism in music is nothing new, but in the last few years, the subject of global warming and an intense existential anxiety in response to it have begun to creep subtly into lyrics where you may overlook them.  Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo has been dismissed by two of the world's most prestigious houses, the Royal Opera in London and New York's Metropolitan Opera, following an investigation by the Royal Opera which determined he had demonstrated "inappropriate and aggressive behavior" during an RO tour of Japan in September. Federal prosecutors in New York have filed a new charge against R. Kelly: They allege that on the day before his 1994 wedding to then-15-year-old R&B star Aaliyah, he and others in his circle bribed a public official in Illinois to create a fake ID for "Jane Doe #1." New Music Though the year is winding down, November still saw the release of lots of great music. Our favorite songs of the month include selections from HAIM, Miranda Lambert, Wye Oak and more, and our favorite albums included new releases by FKA twigs, Michael Kiwanuka and Mount Eerie. There’s a chill in the air, and there’s a distinct chill-out vibe with these serene additions to the NPR Classical Playlist, including music by Ravel, William Basinski, Max Richter, Scarlatti and Mahler. This week, our friends at WMOT and World Cafe shared a video of The War and Treaty performing at WMOT's 895 Fest in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Tiny Desk Mhari Shaw/NPR This Tiny Desk performance was a year in the making, but it was worth the wait. The enigmatic and reclusive producer Madlib joined hard-hitting emcee Freddie Gibbs for one of the most memorable Tiny Desks of the year. Incoming Next week, we’ll be publishing lists of our favorite music of 2019. But before we do, we want to hear from you: What were your favorite albums (or EPs) released this year?  One More Thing Find your next read. Listen to your favorite NPR Member station live on your Alexa or Google Home device. Just tell your smart speaker to,  “Play NPR.” What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback:  nprmusic@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Books, Pop Culture, Health and more! Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on Spotify and Apple Music! You received this message because you're subscribed to NPR Music emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy