Sheila E.: Tiny Desk Concert

This Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, NPR Music celebrates artists from all corners of Latinidad with an ’El Tiny’ takeover. Felix Contreras | October 11, 2024 Sheila E. is a portrait of motion. Not just the movement of her body as one of the world’s most recognized drummers, but also as a versatile musician who glides easily from genre to genre with the ease of a master. For her time behind the Desk, she assembled a team of musicians to play tracks from her first ever salsa album Bailar. From the first notes of “Rumba Percussion Jam,” Sheila E.’s bona-fides performing true rumbera (traditional Afro-Cuban drumming and singing) are on full display with her conga chops. The entire set is a reflection of her long standing ability to meld Afro-Caribbean, jazz and funk into a danceable celebration that caps off with shots of tequila for her final track “Playa Tequila.” Any amount of time spent with Sheila E. is a reminder that high caliber musicianship is always first and goes down easier when presented with the joyous energy of an icon. SET LIST “Rumba Percussion Jam” “Mi Amor” “The Way That You Do” “Possibilities” “Playa Tequila” MUSICIANS Sheila Escovedo: lead vocals, percussion Raymond McKinley: bass, tour management, production management Myke Davison: guitar Bertron Curtis: keys Rose Ann Dimalanta: keys Daniel Rodriguez: drums Fausto Cuevas: percussion Johny Ayquipa: trumpet Percy Recavarren: trombone Lynn Mabry: vocals Rebecca Jade: vocals Debi Nova: vocals Jean Rodriguez: vocals TINY DESK TEAM Producer: Felix Contreras Director/Editor: Maia Stern Audio Technical Director: Josephine Nyounai Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Alanté Serene Audio Engineer: Ted Mebane Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer Photographer: Michael Zamora Tiny Desk Team: Hazel Cills, Josh Newell Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins