Carlos Vives — NPR Tiny Desk, 2025

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Why this recording

Carlos Vives shows up with a band that “barely fits” in the space, according to producer Felix Contreras, several of its members having played with him for decades. NPR's introduction reads the instrumentation as a map of Colombian heritage: Europe through the accordion, Africa through the alegre drum, Indigenous cultures through the gaita. Something to watch for in the opener “La Cachucha Bacana”: an electric guitar solo, which Contreras singles out as a surprise in this repertoire. Directed and edited by Joshua Bryant.

— Simon Janvier, live-sound professional and editor of the catalogue

Recording technical sheet

Rights-holding channelNPR Music
Source statusOfficial — broadcaster or organiser
Uploaded
Exact runtime
ResolutionHD (720p+)
Directed byJoshua Bryant
Source qualityProfessional (multi-camera)

Metadata checked on YouTube on 29 September 2026; direction, camera setup and sound documented by the editors.

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Published on August 20, 2026 by Simon Janvier

Filmed live session by Colombian star Carlos Vives for NPR’s Tiny Desk, released on 22 September 2025 as part of “El Tiny,” NPR Music’s takeover celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Backed by his longtime band La Provincia, Vives marks the thirtieth anniversary of his landmark album “La Tierra del Olvido” (1995), which modernised vallenato by fusing it with pop and rock. Behind NPR’s little desk in Washington, the ensemble unfurls a rich palette of traditional instruments — gaita, accordion, tiple, cuatro, caja, guacharaca — for a seven-song set: “La Cachucha Bacana,” “Diosa Coronada,” “Ella,” “Agua,” “La Tierra del Olvido,” “Pa’ Mayte” and “Fruta Fresca.” A warm, danceable capture, perfect for feeling the contagious joy of Colombian Caribbean music. Keywords: Carlos Vives live, Tiny Desk, vallenato, live concert, full performance.

Setlist

  1. La Cachucha Bacana
  2. Diosa Coronada
  3. Ella
  4. Agua
  5. La Tierra del Olvido
  6. Pa' Mayte
  7. Fruta Fresca

Personnel & credits

  • Carlos Vives — vocals, harmonica
  • Mayte Montero — gaita, maracas
  • Christian Camilo Peña — accordion
  • Andrés Leal — guitar, tiple, cuatro
  • Luis Ángel Pastor — bass
  • Carlos Iván Medina — keyboards
  • Kike Cuao Jr. — percussion, guacharaca
Category

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