Jacob Collier: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Watch Jacob Collier play "Make Me Cry", "Feel", "It Don't Matter" at the Tiny Desk.

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July 22, 2019 | Collin Marshall -- As the the NPR staff gathered to watch his performance, Jacob Collier sprinted full bore down the hallway. It seems the North London 24-year-old can hardly contain his creative energy. It comes out in his wardrobe and most definitely in his music, but it's not misdirected or out of control. These are intricate and precise compositions, like a ship in a bottle made of thousands of planks of wood, yet light enough to sail in a breeze. It's on a scale you wouldn't imagine. Here's an example: This year he covered Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer's "Moon River" by recording himself 5,000 times and working in 144 other vocal submissions, and then he printed and sold signed copies of his Logic Pro audio session for fans while on tour. Though this is is a regular day for Jacob, his output continues to astonish everyone around him, both in its quality and sheer quantity. This year alone, he's putting out a project called Djesse with four distinct and complete volumes. Many of the songs are being written along the way, including one crafted specifically for the Tiny Desk called "It Don't Matter."

The whole Tiny Desk Concert has a lot to unpack. Check my math, but by my count Jacob plays seven instruments, if you include his singing. And you should — Jacob's stamp has always been to use voice in his compositions like a Swiss army knife, and virtually every combination of band members harmonizes at some point in the show. It's reflective of his philosophy on music as a connecting tool, to use the instrument we all possess, which drew me to his art in the first place. And as if to make good on those beliefs and bring all of us into one moment, he invited the crowd to sing the final lyrics of the concert together. It was the end of the show, but not even close to the limit of Jacob's imaginative bounds. He obsessed over leaving us a gift: a fake ID fashioned out of a passport photo and an Oyster Card — London's public transit fare card — which now sits on the hallowed shelves of the Tiny Desk. Extra credit if you can spot it in future episodes.

SET LIST
"Make Me Cry"
"Feel"
"It Don't Matter"

MUSICIANS
Jacob Collier: vocals, piano, guitar, bass, melodica, cymbal; Becca Stevens: vocals, acoustic guitar, charango; Christian Euman: vocals, drums, percussion; MARO: vocals, acoustic guitar, keys; Robin Mullarkey: vocals, bass, percussion

CREDITS
Producers: Colin Marshall, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Kara Frame, Beck Harlan; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Production Assistant: Paul Georgoulis; Photo: Claire Harbage/NPR

[joshuahpatterson]

That drummer is UNDERRATED the counting and polyrhythms on the kit while singing is INCREDIBLE

[PauliG]

My Mom loved to be introduced to new music. A week before she passed (about a month ago), I was visiting her and my father and I played this for her. She loved it. "Feel" brought tears to her eyes. You were the last musician I introduced her to, and now every time I listen to you she is with me. Thank you for that. Your music will move music forward.

[washablecrown]

The audio engineer who records Tiny Desk Concerts might be the most talented person on Earth.

[arielspalter]

Who’s back enjoying this in 2024? The amount of talent in that room is unreal.

[basausi]

The sound engineer did an absolutely stunning job with capturing every instrument tonal depth and clarity. The piano sounds like a studio sound room recording job!

[thecalltoarms]

I appreciate the drummers "stank face" when he's vibing

[ducitrinh]

Imagine an artist, who's able to play piano like a genius, nearly every instrument on this world on a high level, has a perfect pitch, understands music on a level it has never been before AND being a insane entertainer, making music with the crowd like we have never seen before AND being an insanely kind human being.
There you go, this is Jacob Collier.
Man, I love this dude.

[zaferalabbas]

Props to the audio engineer Josh Rogosin. The mixing on this is phenomenal.

[kvn]

There's 2 groups of music wizard on this video.
1. Is of course Jacob and his team
2. The audio engineer team on NPR music

[bearoftheeast]

I did not expect his voice to be that deep or that range.

[gbb]

Some people make music. Some people are made of music.

[lauragwillim]

Never heard of this guy. I think this is the best Tiny Desk I’ve ever seen. His music moved me to tears. Very profound musician. Those vocal harmonies were stunning.

[noahfruth]

Sometimes it seems like he's a thousand years old

[WanderingNasi]

This dude has cult leader levels of charisma. 20 seconds into a song and you can't help but love him

[edglue]

This is why I love Tiny Desk.
Never heard of this dude, now I'm looking for his closest gig to mine.
Quality. Pure quality

[sarahborruso]

jesus christ these backup singers are absolutely insane

[somebodysthunder]

Jacob: Wanna jam?
Me: Sure, what key?
Jacob: All of them.

[dmclives]

Special thumbs up to the sound/audio engineers at Tiny Desk for bringing us buttery goodness so regularly. Well done!

[andrewrocha]

I’m sitting in a tent right now, the rain is falling pretty steadily and it’s 5:12 am. All of my friends are asleep and I am immersed in the blessing of sound. Music is amazing.

[Lucas_Barros_C]

this drummer's cohesion is just out of this world, extremely respectful playing