Meshell Ndegeocello Archives - Page 3

Meshell Ndegeocello is following up her 2011 release, Weather, with the release of her tenth studio album, Pour une âme souveraine (“For a sovereign soul”). The album is a dedication to Nina Simone, who Ndegeocello says was a “powerful influence both musically and politically”. “She wanted success, was pressured to make hits, but her own sound was still irrepressible,” said...

Meshell Ndegeocello and her band recently stopped by Santa Monica, California’s NPR affiliate, KCRW, for the Morning Becomes Eclectic show. The group performed material from Ndegeocello’s latest album, , released in November. This tune, “Dead End”, is one of those tracks, and showcases Ndegeocello’s unique way of making everything groove. KCRW has the full sesson available on their website.

Blending hip-hop, rock, go-go and even a little country, bassist/singer/multi-instrumentalist Meshell Ndegeocello makes her return with her ninth studio album, Winter. The album, as diverse as the bassist herself, is the first studio effort since the 2009 release, Devil’s Halo. Even with the diversity, Ndegeocello describes Weather as organic and “song-based,” with an emphasis on groove. Among her original tunes...

Meshell Ndegeocello has announced a string of tour dates to support her upcoming ninth album Weather, which is set for a November 8th release. The bassist/singer/songwriter will stop off for a few shows on the East Coast next month before covering the West Coast and Midwest in January. The album, which she describes as “strkingly organic” and “song-based,” is yet...

Meshell Ndegeocello has announced that she will be dropping her ninth studio album on November 8th on Naïve Records. Weather will be the follow up to the bassist/songwriter’s 2009 album Devil’s Halo. A preview track called “Dirty World” is available for streaming and download. Recorded in Los Angeles, the album was produced by Joe Henry and features special guests Chris...

Meshell Ndegeocello lays down a nice groove in this live performance of “Satisfy” in 2000. Ndegeocello starts off with her Warwick, offering a nice tone for the tune, before switching to her Fender Jazz and really getting down. She even quotes Hendrix’s “Power of Soul” near the end.

Backbeat Books has released The Funky Bass Book, compiled and edited by former Bass Player magazine editor Bill Leigh. The 256 page book offers a huge collection of “funked-up wisdom and inspiration”, tracing back to the pioneers of R&B, soul and funk, to the latest hop-hop, neo-soul and Gospel. The book’s forward is by Bootsy Collins. The Funky Bass Book‘s...

Meshell Ndegeocello is the latest Guest Professor addition to Bootsy Collins’ Funk U, joining Les Claypool, Victor Wooten,Divinity Roxx, John B. Williams, Frankie “Kash” Waddy, Bakithi Kumalo, Billy Bass, Dennis Chambers and T.M. Stevens. FunkU opens its doors on July 1st, and enrollment has already begun. For more, visit thefunkuniversity.com.

Here’s a 1997 recording of Meshell Ndegeocello performing in a 1997 concert in Switzerland, backed by the funky bass lines of David Dyson.

10-time Grammy nominee Meshell Ndegeocello is set to tour on the west coast starting in February following the release of her latest album, Devil’s Halo. On tour with her will be bassist Mark Kelley, guitarist Chris Bruce, drummer Deantoni Parks and keyboardist Keefus Ciancia. On Devil’s Halo, the bassist/songwriter said she wanted to focus on musicianship and live-band energy. The...

Bassist Meshell Ndegeocello has just released Devil’s Halo through the Downtown record label. This is Ndegeocello’s eighth album to date and features live music energy, but thematically resting on loneliness and alcohol. Ndegeocello has explained part of her muse: “I live in Hudson, N.Y., and you can walk the whole town in about 10 minutes. The unifying factor is the...

In case you missed it, here are some of the most popular features from last week (August 23rd through 28th). Features & Columns Lesson: Melodic Construction Jon Burr introduced a new lesson series, on melodic construction in improvisation. Player Spotlight: Adam Tanner Our player spotlight showcased the work of Adam Tanner (aka ZenBeer), a solo bassist from Ottawa, Ontario. Ask...