Gospel singer Tye Tribbett squeezes in a choir for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert

It was a bit of a tight fit, getting the choir, horns and full rhythm section properly situated behind the center nook of the Desk where Tye Tribbett would eventually stand. As the band warmed up, there was concern that his voice might not carry over the fullness of the talented ensemble. During the rehearsal, he stood nearby, directing music cues, occasionally taking a moment to make "grrrr" vocalizations as the band adjusted to bring the loudness down. They quickly found just the right level and when Tribbett moved into place for sound check, his lead vocal both blended into and soared above the magnificence of the band's high energy praise music.

Even before the production crew pushed their record buttons, an excitement filled the air. As the first song developed, the intensity rose to an even higher level, setting the tone for an emotional, spiritual experience. Musical excellence was abundant as the singers lifted their voices with precise intonation, and Tribbetts' vigor was infectious. The complex instrumental arrangements included jazzy licks and funky beats that drove spontaneous but smooth transitions in and out of six inspiring songs.

Before the last tune, the encouraging "Be Alright," Tribbett exclaimed, "There is hope! You're never hopeless. I know your world gets dark and you feel all by yourself. You think nobody sees you but God sees you and not only does he see you but he's been with you the whole time."

SET LIST

• "No Way"

• "Get Up"

• "Victory"

• "Everything" 

• "He Turned It"

• "Be Alright"

MUSICIANS

• Tye Tribbett: vocals

• Joseph Bethea: keys

• Brandon Jones: keys

• Thaddaeus Tribbett: bass

• George "Spanky" McCurdy: drums

• Jabari Johnson: guitar

• Kevin Woods: trumpet

• Joseph Streater: trumpet

• Frank Rein: trombone

• Jalisa Faye: vocals

• Jewell Jones: vocals

• Jocelyn Bowman: vocals

• Sharon Ann: vocals

• Billy Crayton Jr.: vocals

• Brandon Edwards: vocals

TINY DESK TEAM

• Producer: Bobby Carter

• Director/Editor: Kara Frame

• Audio Engineer: Neil Tevault 

• Audio Mix: Josh Rogosin

• Creative Director: Bob Boilen 

• Videographers: Kara Frame, Joshua Bryant, Sofia Seidel, Maia Stern

• Audio Assistant: Josephine Nyounai 

• Production Assistants: Jill Britton, Ashley Pointer

• Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Marissa Lorusso, Hazel Cills, Pilar Galván

• VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

• Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

• Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.