Theo Croker Brings The Jazz to NPR's Tiny Desk Concert

For NPR Tiny Desk Concert's Black History Month series, Theo Croker performed four songs from his jazzy catalog.

Theo Croker brought the jazz to NPR's Tiny Desk Concert just in time for Black History Month. To kickoff the release of this new EP, BY THE WAY, the 37-year-old trumpeter performed with his four-piece band, consisting of double bassist Eric Wheeler; keyboardist Michael King; drummer Michael Shekwoaga Ode and vocalist Malaya.

The grandson of late jazz trumpeter, Doc Cheatham, Croker has collaborated with a full lineup of mainstream artists, including J. Cole, Ari Lennox, Wyclef Jean and Jill Scott, along with jazz veterans Dee Dee Bridgewater and Gary Bartz. During the 18-minute Tiny Desk performance, Crocker performed songs "JAZZ IS DEAD," "The Messenger," "Happy Feet (for dancers)" and "No Escape from Bliss."

"Croker's latest two albums, LOVE QUANTUMand BLK2LIFE // A FUTURE PAST, and new EP BY THE WAYshowcase Croker's journey as a trumpeter, composer and producer in expanding the music commonly known as jazz with hip-hop, R&B and electronic sounds," reads NPR Music's descriptor about the Florida native.

To celebrate the release of BY THE WAY, Croker dropped new single "Slowly" featuring Ego Ella May, the A.I.-created music video made by Jawn Diego Reyes.

"The prompts were refined and inspired by the EP’s lyrics and stream-of-consciousness writing. I hope the video conveys a surreal feeling and speaks for itself, similar to Theo’s work," Reyes wrote about the "Slowly" visual.

Watch Croker's full performance below.