Monday Night Jam: John Legend on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Series

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At 34, John Legend has sold millions of records, won nine Grammys, collaborated with many of the biggest stars in music (Jay-Z, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, The Roots, et al), and achieved the kind of statesmanlike musical-ambassador status usually afforded to artists twice his age. He is, in short, the sort of star who doesn’t usually perform behind desks in offices.

But once we’d wedged a piano back there, Legend sounded perfectly at home. His rich, soulful voice never suffered for a lack of processing and production as he performed three songs for NPR Music and a few hundred of our rapt coworkers, loved ones and hangers-on.

Though he recently released a fine new album titled Love in the Future, from which “Made to Love” and “All of Me” were drawn for this set, Legend took special care to provide the backstory for “Move,” which he’d recorded for the soundtrack to 12 Years a Slave. Legend executive-produced that soundtrack himself — don’t be surprised if you wind up hearing him perform “Move” again on Oscar night — and recorded the album version with U.K. musician Fink. Here, though, it’s stripped down considerably, with just Legend’s piano and the acoustic guitar of guest Bobby Anderson providing accompaniment.

Legend doesn’t play settings this intimate very often, and it’s not as if he has anything to prove at this point in his career. But, just in case he did, he retains a busker’s lung capacity, the charisma of a born star and the easygoing grace of a performer fit for any stage — even a tiny one. —STEPHEN THOMPSON

Set List
“Made To Love”
“Move”
“All Of Me”

Credits
Producers: Bob Boilen, Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Becky Harlan, Abbey Oldham, Meredith Rizzo

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41 comments
1 #FergusonFireside  Feb 23, 2015 6:43:46pm

Wow.

NPR Tiny Desk is just.

2 RealityBasedSteve  Feb 23, 2015 6:47:25pm

For my musician / performer friends. Would that be a true test of a performer, no big band / big production. Just him, a piano and a guitar in a bare bones setting. I’m imagining it would, no place to hide, no processing, just you, your talent and training.

RBS

3 #FergusonFireside  Feb 23, 2015 6:50:49pm

re: #2 RealityBasedSteve

For my musician / performer friends. Would that be a true test of a performer, no big band / big production. Just him, a piano and a guitar in a bare bones setting. I’m imagining it would, no place to hide, no processing, just you, your talent and training.

RBS

Acoustic is always the test. Especially now-a-days.

4 #FergusonFireside  Feb 23, 2015 6:53:11pm

Just ran across this on Ted Allen’s twitter.

This is what I miss so much about Florida.

You who have not had stone crabs, make it a life goal.
5 teleskiguy  Feb 23, 2015 6:54:58pm
6 WhatEVs  Feb 23, 2015 6:55:19pm

re: #4 #FergusonFireside

Just ran across this on Ted Allen’s twitter.

This is what I miss so much about Florida.

Image: You who have not had stone crabs, make it a life goal.

Christ, I thought those were flamingo heads. (Shudder)

7 A Cranky One  Feb 23, 2015 6:56:04pm

re: #2 RealityBasedSteve

For my musician / performer friends. Would that be a true test of a performer, no big band / big production. Just him, a piano and a guitar in a bare bones setting. I’m imagining it would, no place to hide, no processing, just you, your talent and training.

RBS

One challenge that isn’t obvious is that instruments aren’t the same. It’s not just the tonal qualities, but the action. Subtle differences make playing a different instrument well, different. You’d never know it from his performance.

8 A Cranky One  Feb 23, 2015 6:57:46pm

re: #4 #FergusonFireside

Just ran across this on Ted Allen’s twitter.

This is what I miss so much about Florida.

Image: You who have not had stone crabs, make it a life goal.

Trying to make me crabby? My cranky kung-fu is superior to yours!

9 #FergusonFireside  Feb 23, 2015 6:57:51pm

re: #6 WhatEVs

Christ, I thought those were flamingo heads. (Shudder)

So wrong!!

10 Feline Fearless Leader  Feb 23, 2015 6:58:29pm

re: #9 #FergusonFireside

So wrong!!

Taste like chicken!

11 BeachDem  Feb 23, 2015 6:59:19pm

So, moron upchuck (but I repeat myself) says he’ll have some big “reveal” in about 2 hours, when he’s finished driving to wherever the hell he’s going. Then, he continues to tweet (obviously while driving, such a safe activity). And, then he tweets:

Self-fulfilling prophecy? (And how does one “get in a gun accident?)

12 The Mother Of All Pies  Feb 23, 2015 7:00:57pm

High speed chase & standoff is over, driver in custody.

13 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 23, 2015 7:01:41pm

UpChuck is going after a “pro-Palestian” group at UCLA.

I hope Palestis around the world push back.

14 A Cranky One  Feb 23, 2015 7:01:57pm

re: #11 BeachDem

So, moron upchuck (but I repeat myself) says he’ll have some big “reveal” in about 2 hours, when he’s finished driving to wherever the hell he’s going. Then, he continues to tweet (obviously while driving, such a safe activity). And, then he tweets:

[Embedded content]

Self-fulfilling prophecy? (And how does one “get in a gun accident?)

James O’Keefe got some attention on Drudge by saying he’s afraid for his life. So you know Upchuck, got to get in on the action.

15 BlueSpotinAL  Feb 23, 2015 7:02:59pm

and CCJ called John Legend a rapper. What an idiot.

16 The Mother Of All Pies  Feb 23, 2015 7:03:09pm

re: #13 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

UpChuck is going after a “pro-Palestian” group at UCLA.

Embedded Image

I hope Palestis around the world push back.

“Friends of Hamas” again?

17 Jenner7  Feb 23, 2015 7:05:07pm

If you haven’t watched Rachel tonight, you should. She has the audio of the idiot who thinks a pill can reach the vagina. It is hilarious.

18 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 23, 2015 7:05:52pm

re: #16 The Vicious Babushka

“Friends of Hamas” again?

Pretty much. I reckon he drove to UCLA, saw the posters, took some shots with his cellphone, then wrote a piece linking SJP to Hamas as if it’s fact.

I note that the ADL refers to SJP as anti-Israel, not anti-Semitic.

19 #FergusonFireside  Feb 23, 2015 7:05:58pm

re: #15 BlueSpotinAL

and CCJ called John Legend a rapper. What an idiot.

Basic racist shit.

20 Charles Johnson  Feb 23, 2015 7:07:09pm
21 WhatEVs  Feb 23, 2015 7:09:07pm

re: #9 #FergusonFireside

So wrong!!

I’m on a phone! It’s not my twisted mind (this time).

22 The Mother Of All Pies  Feb 23, 2015 7:09:54pm

re: #20 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Was Chuck driving that truck in Palmdale?

23 Feline Fearless Leader  Feb 23, 2015 7:10:09pm

O’Keefe is afraid for his life. If he doesn’t find a new grift or scam soon he might starve.
///

24 Kragar  Feb 23, 2015 7:10:26pm

re: #11 BeachDem

So, moron upchuck (but I repeat myself) says he’ll have some big “reveal” in about 2 hours, when he’s finished driving to wherever the hell he’s going. Then, he continues to tweet (obviously while driving, such a safe activity). And, then he tweets:

[Embedded content]

Self-fulfilling prophecy? (And how does one “get in a gun accident?)

Someone let Chuck know that anyone with the ability to arrange the kind of “accident” he is implying doesn’t give a flying fuck about Chuck

25 klys (maker of Silmarils)  Feb 23, 2015 7:10:42pm

I’ll be doing my first semi-official recording tonight - my music teacher has a reasonable enough set-up for doing something more than just the camera on my cell phone, and I’m working on a few lullabies to record for a friend who is expecting. Just music, no words (I think she’d get sick of them) - but harp should be good for that.

So the harp is in its case and ready to go (should be mostly in tune) and I have practiced repeatedly. And hopefully there will be time to do it once or twice if needed.

26 Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 23, 2015 7:13:42pm

re: #11 BeachDem

fulfilling prophecy? (And how does one “get in a gun accident?)

That’s what I’m wondering…unless CCJ owns a bra holster.

27 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 23, 2015 7:14:58pm

re: #18 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

Pretty much. I reckon he drove to UCLA, saw the posters, took some shots with his cellphone, then wrote a piece linking SJP to Hamas as if it’s fact.

I note that the ADL refers to SJP as anti-Israel, not anti-Semitic.

I found this article about the same thing. jewishjournal.com

28 #FergusonFireside  Feb 23, 2015 7:15:20pm
29 BeenHereAwhile  Feb 23, 2015 7:17:12pm

re: #4 #FergusonFireside

Just ran across this on Ted Allen’s twitter.

This is what I miss so much about Florida.

Image: You who have not had stone crabs, make it a life goal.

October 15 thru May 15.

30 Charles Johnson  Feb 23, 2015 7:17:37pm
31 Eclectic Cyborg  Feb 23, 2015 7:22:14pm

re: #30 Charles Johnson

The Top 6 are all GOP.

32 allegro  Feb 23, 2015 7:24:26pm

Looking at that chart makes me wonder if there are any dems voting. Ever.

33 WhatEVs  Feb 23, 2015 7:24:30pm

re: #23 Feline Fearless Leader

O’Keefe is afraid for his life. If he doesn’t find a new grift or scam soon he might starve.
///

And the suckers will eat. It. Up.

34 freetoken  Feb 23, 2015 7:24:31pm

re: #31 Eclectic Cyborg

Work ethic?

Whatever … it just seems to me that some people will be more predisposed to working a system more than others.

Looking at that list, it appears as if the top attendees probably are very comfortable with their own electorate and don’t have to spend an inordinate amount of time traveling back and forth from DC.

35 HappyWarrior  Feb 23, 2015 7:25:45pm

re: #20 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Waiting with baited breath at this new shocking revelation.

36 #FergusonFireside  Feb 23, 2015 7:27:23pm

re: #31 Eclectic Cyborg

The Top 6 are all GOP.

Kinda admirable. Seriously, looking through those names, the only one after Susan Collins who’s made it into my realm of life is Virginia Foxx.

37 #FergusonFireside  Feb 23, 2015 7:27:56pm

re: #34 freetoken

Work ethic?

Whatever … it just seems to me that some people will be more predisposed to working a system more than others.

Looking at that list, it appears as if the top attendees probably are very comfortable with their own electorate and don’t have to spend an inordinate amount of time traveling back and forth from DC.

Yep. Probably.

38 HappyWarrior  Feb 23, 2015 7:28:47pm

re: #36 #FergusonFireside

Kinda admirable. Seriously, looking through those names, the only one after Susan Collins who’s made it into my realm of life is Virginia Foxx.

Amash being number three is especially admirable when you consider that I think he’s only been in since Obama was elected. Not a fan of his or really any of the GOPers on the list but a lot of these are fairly newbs with the exception of Collins, Grassey, and Sensenbrenner.

39 A Cranky One  Feb 23, 2015 7:33:43pm

Let’s see…hmmm…try to think like Upchuck thinks not….

BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: Obama supports food crack dealers! Imperial Obama - Proof! Proof Obama Is Gay

FIRST TO REPORT!!!111!
40 HappyWarrior  Feb 23, 2015 7:34:57pm

re: #39 A Cranky One

Let’s see…hmmm…try to think like Upchuck thinks not….

BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: Obama supports food crack dealers! Imperial Obama - Proof! Proof Obama Is Gay

[Embedded content]

Heh don’t give that manchild ideas.

41 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 23, 2015 7:50:12pm

re: #18 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

Pretty much. I reckon he drove to UCLA, saw the posters, took some shots with his cellphone, then wrote a piece linking SJP to Hamas as if it’s fact.

I note that the ADL refers to SJP as anti-Israel, not anti-Semitic.

It’s worth your life in a lot of places to even hint that those terms aren’t synonymous, so I’m skeptical….


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