Me'Shell Ndegeocello July 6, 2012

Me'Shell Ndegeocello's hybrid of funk and pop is challenging, spiritual and sophisticated. Although she scored a few hits early in her career, the singer/bassist opted to concentrate subsequently on more challenging material by exploring the politics of race and sex, among other topics. After 20 years in an industry that has called her everything from avant garde to a dying breed, what unquestionably remains is a fearsome bassist and prolific songwriter with the creativity and curiosity of an authentic musical force. A bass player above all else, Meshell brings her signature warm, fat, and melodic groove to everything she does and 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.