Jazmine Sullivan: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.

Bobby Carter | January 8, 2021
I don't recall any other artist at the Tiny Desk harmonizing their own introduction, but Philadelphia's own Jazmine Sullivan didn't waste a second, greeting us all by flexing those once-in-a-generation chops from the jump. The singer-songwriter, draped in a trench coat while her band sports all black, are nestled in the corner of a dimly lit space resembling a cabaret.

We don't see or hear much from Jazmine Sullivan until she has something to get off her chest. She drops a body of work every five years or so, shakes up the world of R&B with each offering, then quietly goes back to minding her own business. Her latest project, Heaux Tales, is a bold and timely conversation piece addressing truths regarding relationships, sex, social norms, self-worth and a myriad of other topics that women graple with. Each song is masterfully connected to another through unique yet familiar testimonies by women from all walks of life.

She starts her Tiny Desk (home) concert with three extended and reworked selections from Heaux Tales, squeezes in thee fan favorite from 2015's Reality Show, then invites Tiny Desk alum H.E.R. to the stage to close with "Girl Like Me." Ms. Sullivan, her background vocalists and H.E.R. ate this performance up and left not a crumb on the floor.

SET LIST
"Bodies (Intro)"
"The Other Side"
"Lost One"
"Let It Burn"
"Girl Like Me" (featuring H.E.R.)

MUSICIANS
Jazmine Sullivan: vocals
H.E.R.: vocals
Alisa Joe: vocals
Natalie Curtis: vocals
Ayana George: vocals
Dave Watson: drums
Simon Martinez: guitar
Jermaine Blandford: bass
Eric Wortham: keys

CREDITS
Video: Mansa Twin Johnson, Mignotae Kebede, Evan Morsell
Audio: Chauncey Burney
Creative Director: Amaya Segura
Set Design: Matthew Englebert
Executive Producer: Omari Williams

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Video Producer: Maia Stern
Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
Tiny Production Team: Bob Boilen, Kara Frame, Morgan Noelle Smith
Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

[nprmusic]

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[TheTomale]

Who back in 2024?? Jazmine is just musically insane.

[JordanOlavarria]

Who’s here back in 2024! THAT girl, just wow!

[Youknowsaran]

The control in that lower register is DISRESPECTFULLLL. I love this woman!

[JcFabuleux]

The best version of Jazmine’s songs are when she sing them

[heymrrivers]

when she said Home Ediittttionnn, I already knew!!!

[crazycollins]

Jazmine Sullivan's voice is the equivalent of yams touching the mac. It just really don't get better than that!

[maxbassboostd]

The “Scrolling through the comments while listening” squad

[TheJetsfan]

her introduction is better than most ppls legit songs

[jmichelle]

These background singers did not come to they did not miss a single note 👏

[LADYLLETSTALK]

Here in 2024, can't get enough Jazmine voice

[quanshelton]

I hate that we’re in the middle of a polly pocket because I NEED to experience this in person😭

[XiamaraCarpenter]

Jazmine Sullivan has been singing like this.. y'all just waking up!

[AphiweKani]

Who is back here in 2023? Legit can never get over how Jazmine sings her studio albums live as if they are new. Now that's talent.😍

[LisaEsselAddo]

My girl finally got her WELL DESERVED Grammy!

[kennykings]

Her background singers deserve a deal each 🧨🧨🧨

[masanacornish]

ALSO, can we stan the background singers real quick ?! 10s across the board.

[tiffanyjones]

Anybody who says Jazmine can’t sing or she’s just “aight” is spiritually and emotionally ashy.

[semajjphilly]

That “Body Intro” is crazy. She went in & I don’t even think she realizes it.

[asiphejuleka]

Surely Jazmine should release her acoustic album now 😭😭😭😭