Fantastic Negrito | KNKX Studio Session

Fantastic Negrito’s life has been a series of reinventions. In the '90s, he signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Interscope Records as the R&B singer Xavier. He then was in a near-fatal car wreck that crippled his right hand and left him in a coma for four weeks. Following his recovery, he left the music business and invested in a cannabis farm in Oakland, Calif. After starting a family, he felt drawn back to music, but this time he would do it on his own terms. He started by busking at Bay Area train stations. It was there that he met the person who convinced him to apply for the first ever NPR Tiny Desk contest in 2015, which he won, and it was then that he chose his new persona: Fantastic Negrito. Since then, he has released seven albums and won three Grammy awards for Best Contemporary Blues Album. His most recent release Son of a Broken Man came in 2024, and he has a live album scheduled for release in the summer of 2026. Listen to this remarkable five-song performance from the KNKX studios and enjoy a Fantastic Negrito mini-album created on the spot and in the moment. Musicians: Xavier Dphrepaulezz - vocals, piano Bryan Simmons - keyboards, backing vocals Vincent Maclauchlan - guitar Uriah Duffy - bass, backing vocals Brian Braziel - drums Songs: 0:00 Beat Salad 3:36 Your Sex is Overrated 8:33 California Loner 14:29 Computers 17:55 Plastic Hamburgers Audio: Adam Burd Brian Moynihan Video: Jordan Tan Editing: Parker Miles Blohm Subscribe to see more jazz performances and concerts from KNKX Public Radio. KNKX On-Demand (Listen to interviews from our Studio Sessions!) https://ondemand.knkx.org 24/7 JAZZ RADIO! https://www.jazz24.org FOLLOW US! Instagram:   / knkx885   TikTok:   / knkx885   Threads: https://www.threads.com/@knkx885 Facebook:   / knkxfm   About KNKX KNKX is an ambassador for jazz and blues, and a vital source of high-quality NPR and Northwest news. Our programming staff is committed to bringing you the best in jazz and blues, and expanding the audience for this vital art form. We are an independent public radio station, with studios in Seattle and Tacoma, funded by a loyal community of listeners who value the station’s services. KNKX stands for "Connects," which reflects our commitment to inspire, educate and entertain across Western Washington. Start listening today at https://knkx.org/listen