Earlier than Nile Rodgers & CHIC set the Tiny Desk off, the icon established a kind of mission assertion for the group’s sound: “If we will funk on this, you already know we will funk.” They certainly can. In stints since 1972, CHIC has assured its place as funk ambassadors — a place its members clearly relish — and no area is immune to their grooves. When Rodgers asks singer Kimberly Davis to point out the viewers “how we do it within the CHIC group,” she launches into high-powered vocals that vaporize each notice. And when he asks drummer Ralph Rolle to cause them to “most funkocity,” Rolle ignites call-and-response with an electrified crowd. Because the ringleader of the CHIC expertise, Rodgers crams a lifetime’s price of nightlife into each strum of his guitar.

Rodgers’ profession is epic in each scope and influence. The 1979 CHIC album Risqué was a disco milestone that turned a hip-hop cornerstone. Standing at inflection factors for 2 completely different genres is sufficient to make a profession, however Rodgers was removed from carried out. An incomparable songwriter and session musician, his name sheet as a producer is emblematic of his immense vary: David Bowie, Diana Ross, Madonna and Mick Jagger, simply to call a couple of. His work is embedded within the very cloth of fashionable music, and he continues so as to add to his resume many years after first making modifications to the sonic panorama. In 2014, Rodgers gained the Grammy for file of the yr with Daft Punk. This yr, he amassed extra honors for his work on Beyoncé‘s RENAISSANCE.

His wondrous set spans his large catalog — songs he wrote for CHIC, songs he wrote with collaborators, songs he wrote for different stars and a shock music he wrote for a basic film. All through, Rodgers is the heart beat for an ever-amplifying funk. The band’s efficiency of “I am Coming Out” builds to a rip-roaring sax solo. A rollicking efficiency of “We Are Household” breaks down within the center earlier than erupting to a triumphant end. And atop the rippling bassline of “Good Occasions,” Rodgers breaks into an impromptu model of “Rapper’s Delight,” which samples the music. All of it results in the utmost funkocity of Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” a tribute to the style’s attain and energy.

SET LIST

• “Le Freak”
• “I am Coming Out”
• “We Are Household”
• “Get Fortunate”
• “Good Occasions”
• “Let’s Dance”

MUSICIANS

• Nile Rodgers: guitar, vocals
• Russell Graham: keyboards, vocals
• Jerry Barnes: bass, vocals
• Ralph Rolle: drums, vocals
• Richard Hilton: keyboards, vocals
• Ken Gioffre: saxophone
• Steve Jankowski: trumpet
• Audrey Martells: vocals
• Kimberly Davis: vocals

TINY DESK TEAM

• Producers: Bobby Carter, Bob Boilen
• Director/Editor: Maia Stern
• Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
• Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Body, Joshua Bryant, Alanté Serene
• Audio Assistant: Ted Mebane
• Manufacturing Assistant: Ashley Pointer
• Photographer: Grace Widyatmadja
• Tiny Desk Group: Suraya Mohamed, Hazel Cills
• VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
• Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann