Nikki Birch | November 17, 2025
Before Robert “Sput” Searight counted in the band, he looked at us and said, “All right, buckle up!” On four, Ghost-Note ripped a hit so funky that every face in the room reflexively assumed and remained in stank position. Yep, this Tiny Desk concert reeks like the Mustard n’Onions the band left behind.
Founded by Searight and Nate Werth in 2015 as a drum and percussion duo, Ghost-Note has evolved into a super group, much like Snarky Puppy, the instrumental group of which Searight and Werth are former and current members, respectively.
Ghost-Note kicks off with “JB’s Out” and “Move with a Purpose,” funk-soul songs that channel two of their biggest influences, James Brown and Sly & the Family Stone. There’s a spirited call and response from the band, punctuated with hits and supported by harmonies. Following Dominique Xavier Taplin’s spacey keyboard intro, Mackenzie Green sings the funky R&B love letter “Synesthesia.” Searight picks up the tempo on “Be Somebody,” a tribute to James Brown, the Godfather of Soul.
The concert closes with a love story, “Slim Goodie.” The song features a quick rhythm solo by Werth and Searight, before Mackenzie pleads with such fervor, it makes us all yearn for the affections of our own Slim Goodie, too.
SET LIST
“JB’s Out”
“Move with a Purpose”
“Synesthesia”
“Be Somebody”
“Slim Goodie”
MUSICIANS
Robert “Sput” Searight: drums, percussion, background vocals
Nate Werth: drums, percussion
Justin McKinney: bass
Peter Knudsen: guitar, background vocals
Dominique Xavier Taplin: keys, background vocals
Mackenzie Green: vocals
Jonathan Mones: alto sax, flute, background vocals
Sylvester Onyejiaka: baritone sax
Daniel Wytanis: trombone
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Nikki Birch
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Technical Director: Josephine Nyounai
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Sofia Seidel, Mitra I. Arthur
Audio Engineer: Neil Tevault
Production Assistants: Dora Levite, Dhanika Pineda
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Tiny Desk Team: Maia Stern, Josh Newell
Series Editor: Lars Gotrich
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Executive Director: Sonali Mehta
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton
#nprmusic #tinydesk #ghostnote
