BLK ODYSSY Brings Tenpiece Band to Tiny Desk Performance
Watch the Austin-launched project premiere new song “WANT YOU”
By Rachel Rascoe, 1:45PM, Wed. Jan. 24, 2024
Austin-launched BLK ODYSSY premieres on the NPR Tiny Desk stage (er, office corner) today. For the notable mini-concert series, filmed last November, project visionary Juwan Elcock invited a killer tenpiece band of familiar Texan musicians.
Entering the frame holding the fake silicone head featured on the cover of his 2023 LP DIAMONDS & FREAKS, the artist mixed selects from the album with new song “WANT YOU” and 2021 track “FUNKENTOLOGY.” Alongside BLK ODYSSY staples of guitarist Alejandro Rios and Elcock’s sister-in-law LARA’ (formerly Eimaral Sol) on vocals, the live band also includes: JeMarcus Bridges on keys, Art Hays on saxophone, Paulo Santos on flute, Ari Burns on trumpet, Andre Taylor on vocals, Maya Sampleton on vocals, Marcus Jones on drums, and Jimmy Blazer on bass.
As it’s not uploaded to YouTube yet, you can watch the performance on the NPR Music website. Ahead of the video release, BLK ODYSSY cleared his Instagram to potentially announce a new record with the bio message “BLK III.” He also recently announced a new partnership with Sony Music Publishing.
Previous Austin-based/affiliated acts booked for Tiny Desk appearances include Shearwater, Bill Callahan, the Black Angels, Daniel Johnston, Patty Griffin, Mother Falcon, Okkervil River, Gina Chavez, Shakey Graves, Carrie Rodriguez, Adam Torres, Fragile Rock, Alejandro Escovedo, Gary Clark Jr., Brownout, Lucinda Williams, Black Pumas, and Buffalo Nichols. Taking into account Brownout’s Latin funk, it’s safe to say BLK ODYSSY is one of the first to represent Austin funk and R&B (and all the other genres he swirls) on this national platform.
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Sept. 6, 2024
BLK ODYSSY, Tiny Desk Concert, Juwan Elcock, Alejandro Rios, Eimaral Sol, JeMarcus Bridges, Art Hayes, Paulo Santos, Ari Burns, Andre Taylor, Maya Sampleton, Marcus Jones, Jimmy Blazer
