Robin Hilton | November 15, 2024
You might not have known it, but this is the Tiny Desk you’ve been waiting for. Throughout his entire, window-rattling performance, Durand Jones sang fervently of hope, finding joy in sorrow and perseverance through struggle and doubt, with one of the most memorable voices we’ve had at the Desk.
Backed by a small but equally impressive group of gospel singers, including three members of The Harlem Gospel Travelers, Jones shimmied, glided and belted his way through four tracks from his debut solo release, Wait Til I Get Over. At one point, he told the crowd he’d read negative comments about the album on social media and wondered if it’d been a mistake to put out. “So I got on my knees and prayed to my ancestors. And I was like, ‘Yo, I feel like I’m doing the right thing here but let me know, I need some confirmation.’ ” The next day he heard NPR’s Mitra I. Arthur give an emotional review of the album’s title cut and knew he’d made the right choice. “I was like, ‘duly noted! I’m gonna keep going!’ ”
Jones closed the set with a stirring, a capella version of “Wait Til I Get Over,” with thanks for the journey it started on and how it led him to the Desk.
SET LIST
“I Want You”
“Lord Have Mercy”
“See It Through”
“Wait Til I Get Over”
MUSICIANS
Durand Jones: lead vocals
Glenn Myers: bass
Matthew Romy: keys
Drake Ritter: electric guitar
Ben Lumsdaine: drums
Shaquile Hester: background vocals
The Harlem Gospel Travelers
Ifedayo Gatling: background vocals
George Marage: background vocals
Dennis Keith Bailey III: background vocals
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Robin Hilton
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Audio Technical Director: Josh Newell
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Kara Frame, Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, Sofia Seidel
Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Tiny Desk Copy Editor: Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
#tinydesk #nprmusic #durandjones