Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

October 09, 2015 by PATRICK JARENWATTANANON
Artists don't usually tell long, rambling stories at the Tiny Desk, and if they do, those stories don't usually make the final cut. But this one felt different. It was about the time Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, a young black man, says he was stopped by New Orleans police late at night for no reason other than to harass and intimidate him. And how his pride almost made him do something ill-advised about it. And how he finally channeled that pent-up frustration into a piece of music whose long-form title is "Ku Klux Police Department."

"K.K.P.D." was the emotional peak of the septet's performance, though it wasn't a new tune. That's notable, because Scott stopped by the Tiny Desk on the very day his new album came out. It was played by something of a new band, though: Flutist Elena Pinderhughes, saxophonist Braxton Cook and guitarist Dominic Minix are new, younger additions to the group. It had new textures, too: Drummer Corey Fonville (another new member) used a djembe as a bass drum, and also brought a MIDI pad so he could emulate the sound of a drum machine. The effect was something like an evocation of African roots, juxtaposed with a trap beat.

The first two numbers were, in fact, from Scott's new album Stretch Music. That's his name for the particular type of jazz fusion he's up to: something more seamless than a simple collision of genre signifiers; something whose DNA is already hybridized and freely admits sonic elements which potentially "stretch" jazz's purported boundaries. (You may note that he showed up in a Joy Division sleeveless T-shirt and gold chain.) It's sleek and clearly modern, awash in guitar riffs, but also bold and emotionally naked. Scott is particularly good at getting you to feel the energy he sends pulsing through his horn, and he never shies away from going all-in on a solo. The least we could offer was to let him explain himself in doing so.

Stretch Music is available now.

Set List
"TWIN"
"West Of The West"
"K.K.P.D."

Personnel
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, trumpet; Elena Pinderhughes, flute; Braxton Cook, alto saxophone; Lawrence Fields, piano; Dominic Minix, guitar; Kris Funn, bass; Corey Fonville, percussion

Credits
Producers: Patrick Jarenwattananon, Morgan Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographer: Morgan Walker, Nick Michael, Cameron Robert; Production Assistant: Julia Reihs; photo by Julia Reihs

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[NalgoDeSatanas]

You haven't felt your heart broken if a youtube ad haven't pop-up in the middle of this video

[punkmarko]

This is just one of the absolute peak moments of Tiny Desk concerts.

[HakanARIK]

i am an office worker in western Turkey. and i am enjoying this music with my ear phones. thanks a lot.

[breadboy]

That first track is gonna be a jazz standard in the future... it's hot. And what a beautiful group of people.

[nkmtbm]

I love how theyre dressed casually but are throwing absolute flames with their music

[BricksAndButter]

Sound engineer needs massive credits, he makes every single group sound phenomenal, as though we are sitting in the room ourselves.

[adgradycr]

Christian writes and plays with the emotions from the heart like Coltrane and Miles. It's great to hear young musicians playing with such soul. Continue on your path.

[joelmonster]

Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah is a treasure in the jazz world. This performance was pure fire, every musician brilliant here. This concert will always hold a special place in my heart.

[hayafarah]

The last piece is SOMETHING OUT OF THIS WORLD.

[bKalighat]

I'm a 66-year-young and it's a great pleasure to see these young people, young but so mature.... A reminder: “Jazz? a music for young people who want to stay old”. Reproducing the same energy and commitment as their bebop ancestors did. I don't think they're too aware of it, either. But it's wonderful to hear them.... Scott presents his Indian-Black (or Black-Indian) roots, i.e. Afro-American Indian, I get lost in it, but without insisting too much on the injustices his community endures. This is a good thing. Or not. Maybe he doesn't want to use his music as a weapon of protest. Just listening to it is enough to make certain things clear.
Bravo, Scott, to you, to your companions, to your superb music!

[SlyShippy]

How can I get anything done on my computer anymore when there's so many Tiny Desk concerts on Youtube?!

[dubbledeez]

My grandfather would have absolutely liked remember watching him play his trumpet in his favorite chair, in his PAW PAW

[ecdb__]

"Music has a nutritional value" Couldn't agree more.

[Shiffu]

0:00 "Twin"
8:20 "West of the West
21:50 "K.K.P.D"

[dannywamuya]

I loved that part he played "paaa pa papa paaa" then the drummer went "rakka doom chaa taka dooom chaa" 😢

[smaklilu]

"music that has nutritional value to it" well said!!!!

[vagabonddon]

1st Track was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥Brother gave You the African diaspora in a Track 💪🏿💪🏿

[fumiyohirano]

Bravo! An excellent band! Wish you a big success!!! I am 80 y.o. Woman, but, I can dance with your music without getting tired!keep talking, and keep playing the beautiful sound!

[fenderbass]

THIS IS WHY MUSIC IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IN THE WORLD.

[ronshina]

0:01 Twin
2:35 flute solo (Twin)

8:21 West Of The West 🎹
9:07 sax solo 🎷 (West Of The West)
12:25 bass solo (West Of The West)

21:52 K.K.P.D. 🥁