Watch Nile Rodgers & CHIC Perform Hit-Filled ‘Tiny Desk Concert’

Hit-making performer, bandleader, songwriter and producer Nile Rodgers brought Nile Rodgers & Chic ensemble to NPR Music headquarters in Washington D.C. earlier this year for a Tiny Desk Concert. The nine-piece band weaved together six iconic songs penned by Rodgers during their phenomenal performance which can be viewed below.

“’Tiny Desk’ was a musical challenge for us that I will never forget! We had a ball squeezing the entire CHIC Funk, Disco, R&B, Soul sound onto that tiny desk and figuring how to get more out of it,” explained Nile Rodgers in a press release. “I think we did it but we’ll let you be the judge of that, let us know what you think!”

Nile Rodgers & Chic — 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) and Kimberly Davis — opened their Tiny Desk Concert with a rousing rendition of the 1978 chart-topping hit “Le Freak.” Martells then led the group on a horn-driven take on Diana Ross’ 1980 smash “I’m Coming Out” before Nile Rodgers & Chic slickly segued into the 1979 Sister Sledge single “We Are Family.”

Rodgers continued by talking about his work with Daft Punk of the Grammy-winning 2013 album Random Access Memories. However, while Nile was speaking, Russell Graham chimed in by singing “Soul Glo” from the Coming To America soundtrack. Nile Rodgers & Chic then worked through Random Access Memories single “Get Lucky” and their own 1979 classic “Good Times.”

The session ended with what Rodgers referred to as an encore. First, drummer Ralph Rolle gave those assembled a lesson in “maximum funkocity.” Nile Rodgers & Chic wrapped their Tiny Desk Concert with a soul-laden version of “Let’s Dance,” the title track of David Bowie’s 1983 studio album.

View Nile Rodgers & Chic’s Tiny Desk Concert below: