Show #177: Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell Ndegeocello was born Michelle Johnson but changed her name to the Swahili word for "free like a bird" which is incredibly apt.


(Photo by Voss.)

I only heard of her recently and that was in an interview with her former lover Rebecca Walker. Still, I was intrigued enough to check her out. Ndegeocello moves freely amongst just about every style of African-American pop music. There's hip hop, jazz, R&B, funk, and even a bit of rock too – and it all makes a wonderful musical stew topped off with her soulful voice.

This week's show was recorded at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague, Holland. The date was 13 July 1996 and it's a nice soundboard recording.

Lineup:

Meshell - bass, vocals
Allen Cato - guitar
Federico Gonzalez Pena - keys
Oliver Gene Lake - drums
Daniel Sadownick - percussion
Arif St. Michael - backing vocals

Setlist:

Intro
Step Into The Projects
The Womb
The Way
Deuteronomy: Niggerman
If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)
Two Lonely Hearts
Free My Heart
Outside Your Door
Shoot'n Up N Gett'n High
I'm Diggin' You (Like An Old Soul Record)
Leviticus: Faggot

Download show

Meshell Ndegeocello

Here's Ndegeocello doing "Outside Your Door".