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 hip-hop-infused 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