Meshell Honors Nina at Telluride Jazz 2013

30 Jul Meshell Honors Nina at Telluride Jazz 2013

Meshell Ndegeocello

A consummate musical storyteller, she was widely regarded one of the most extraordinary artists of the 20th century and an icon of American music. When Nina Simone died on April 21, 2003, she left behind a virtual treasure trove of music spanning over four decades, from her first hit, the 1959 Top 10 classic “I Loves You Porgy,” to “A Single Woman,” the title cut from her  one and only 1993 Elektra album.

Meshell Ndegeocello’s   – her name is pronounced Mee-shell N-deh-gay-o-chel-o – latest release, Pour une ame sourveraine (For a sovereign soul) is a tribute to the “High Priestess of Soul, ” whom Meshell revered, in part because Nina Simone’s music was highly instrumental in the fight for equal rights in the United States.

“She wanted success, was pressured to make hits, but her own sound was still irrepressible,” explains Meshell. “She had things to say, she protested. She was a loud, proud black, female voice during a time when black female voices were not encouraged to make themselves heard.”

You will want to be in Town Park on Saturday, August 3, 4:40 – 5:50 p.m. That’s when Meshell is scheduled to perform “A Dedication to Nina Simone” at the 37th annual Telluride Jazz Celebration.

Tracks from Pour une ame sourveraine include traditional classics such as “Feelin’ Good,” songs written by Nina Simone (“Real Real”), songs written for her (“To Be Young, Gifted and Black” by Weldon Irvine), traditional ballads such as “House of the Rising Sun” and soulful tunes such as “Feeling Good,” even bluegrass, “Don’t Take All night.” Expect any or all of these songs on Saturday – but don’t expect Meshell to sound like Nina. Expect her to sound like Meshell – whose husky, impassioned voice, smoke and honey, will be more than good enough to carry the moment.

“The aim was not to re-create the existing versions, because we felt strongly that the only way to honor Nina would be for Meshell to find her own voice in the material. Nina was always exploring and experimenting, and quite cathartic. If you are familiar with her work at all you will frequently find that there exist multiple versions of the same song. So we wanted to tap into that same creative spirit and make the songs our own,” explains co-producer Chris Bruce.

Meshell was born Michelle Lynn Johnson in Berlin, Germany, to army Sergeant Major and saxophonist father Jacques Johnson and health care worker mother Helen. She was raised in Washington, D.C. where she grew up listening to music ranging from Stevie Wonder to Rush. Her own musical style has never been predictable and she is not easily pegged to a single genre. Meshell adopted her surname at the age of 17, which she says means “free like a bird” in Swahili.

Since 1993, Meshell Ndegeocello, a 10-time Grammy nominee, has released critically acclaimed albums featuring socially provocative lyrics driven by a solid groove. A bass player above all else, she is known to bring her signature warmth and groove to everything she does. 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.

For 20 years the industry that has tried to capture this “bird” with labels ranging from “avant-garde” to a “dying breed.” At the heart of the debate stands, however,  a fearsome bassist, prolific songwriter, and an authentic musical force, always curious, always creative. For all that, Meshell Ndegeocello has earned the esteem of fellow players, songwriters, composers and dedicated and diverse group of unclassifiable fans.

To learn more, click the “play” button and listen to my conversation with Meshell.