Meshell Ndegeocello is arguably one of the best bassist around today!
If an Academy Award was awarded for the category of sparking the neo-soul movement, Meshell Ndegeocello will win, hands down. In addition to ten career Grammy Award nominations, she also has received innumerable critical acclaims throughout her career. She adopted the surname Ndegeocello, which means "free like a bird". Meshell Ndegeocello is pronounced Mee-shell N-deh-gay-o-chel-o.
The talent singer-songwriter, rapper, bassist, multi-instrumentalist was born Michelle Lynn Johnson in Berlin, Germany on August 29, 1968 and raised in Washington DC. Her parents are army lieutenant and saxophonist father Jacques Johnson and health care worker mother Helen. Ndegeocello attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Oxon Hill High School.
By the early 90's, Ndegeocello joined the Black Rock Coalition, and was soon signed to Madonna's label. Her records, 8 to date, have offered lyrical ruminations on race, love, sex, betrayal, God, and power, and she has simultaneously embraced and challenged listeners with her refusal to be pigeon-holed musically or personally. Meshell has been both celebrated and berated for her politically charged lyrics, sexual boundary crossing, and for choosing the road less traveled – a winding adventure through her own musical ambitions rather than the industry formulas.
Although Ndegeocello songs mostly addresses male lovers, it is reported that she identifies herself as a bisexual. It has also been reported that she previously had a relationship with feminist author Rebecca Walker. She suffers from photosensitive epilepsy and is susceptible to seizures induced by flash photography when she is performing live. She is reported to have a son, Askia, born in 1989.
Canonized, marginalized or just scrutinized, Ndegeocello has given up trying to explain herself. After 20 years in an industry that has called her everything from avant garde to a dying breed, what unquestionably remains is the fearsome bassist, prolific songwriter and the creativity and curiosity of an authentic musical force. With that, she has earned critical acclaim, the unfailing respect of fellow players, songwriters and composers, and the dedication of her diverse, unclassifiable fans.
Each new album by Ndegeocello is a step away from the previous, each used as a chance to investigate and integrate new sounds and ideas, and fans have been treated to everything from the deep-funk of Plantation Lullabies to the raw and confessional Bitter to the hip-hop loving Cookie. Devil’s Halo, Meshell's 8th album and her first for Mercer Street, harkens back to the way records used to be made: no click track or electronic synthetics, with a focus on musicianship and live band energy. Meshell feels that Devil’s Halo represents a return to a place that she truly appreciates, music that is created and performed by people's hands. Produced by Meshell and guitarist Chris Bruce, and influenced by a wide breadth of sounds – from The Human League to Wu Tang to Yes – Devil’s Halo displays Meshell's vocals and diversity throughout.
Meshell says of Devil’s Halo, "I guess I've ended up believing in the gray area, the dichotomies and the unknowable. This record is all about contrast – then and now, raw and polished, beats and harmonies, Devil's Halo, good in evil in all things. I know some people want more of what they've heard and I know other people want the envelope pushed every time and I feel like this record makes peace with all of them”. She adds, “I love heavy bass and dub and beats, but I also sit and play the piano and write a song inspired by a pub in Dublin. I'm not representing anymore – I'm a musician, that's all I can offer. Each record is just meant to say: here's where that's led me today."
A bass player above all else, Meshell has appeared alongside the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Alanis Morrisette, James Blood Ulmer, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Tony Allen, John Medeski, Billy Preston, and Chaka Khan. As for her own bass-playing influences, she credits Sting, Jaco Pastorius, "Family Man" Barrett, and Stevie Wonder. Meshell was the first woman to be featured on the cover of Bass Player magazine and remains one of few women who lead the band and write the music.
This sister is BAD! If you don't already have Ndegeocello's music in your collection, run to the nearest music store TODAY and purchase a legitimate copy. Or, visit an online site such as Amazon to make your purchase. I repeat “a legitimate copy,” and not a bootleg or an illegal downloaded version.
Meshell Ndegeocello – If that's your boyfriend.
Meshell Ndegeocello – Outside Your Door (live at NSJF)
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