Meshell Ndegeocello: Singer-songwriter’s band features duo of stunning
guitarists
Meshell
Ndegeocello is one of the most sought-after bass guitarists in music today—she’s
worked with artists as diverse as Prince, John Mellencamp, Herbie
Hancock, and Madonna. For her solo work, Ndegeocello has also long surrounded
herself with some of the finest musicians. Her latest album, The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel , is “her
most concerted effort yet, a nearly all-instrumental album that is more
a vehicle for her increasingly astute writing than her playing” (All
About Jazz). Fittingly, the band she brings to this year’s Festival
features a talented cast of musicians that includes Brazilian percussionist
Gilmar Gomes, stellar vocalist Sy Smith, and up-and-coming drummer
Dana Hawkins. She also has a pair of dynamic guitar stylists, Brandon
Ross and Oren Bloedow, who should prove to be a compelling addition to her
band.
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| Brandon
Ross |
As a sideman, Brandon
Ross has worked with alt-rappers Arrested Development,
folk singer Jewel, and tenure as music director for pop-jazz chanteuse Cassandra
Wilson. He has also earned a heavy measure of Downtown NYC jazz credibility
for his stints with Henry Threadgill, Archie Shepp, Myra
Melford (appearing
at the Festival 11/4), and Don Byron. Ross boasts a broad knowledge
of harmony, culled from composition and arrangement studies at the Berklee
College of Music, and vibrant improvisational skills honed by years of experience.
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| Oren
Bloedow |
Oren
Bloedow got his start as a bassist with Downtown New York art-jazz
band the Lounge Lizards. After a compelling self-titled solo album in 1993,
he formed the noir-rock band Elysian Fields with singer Jennifer Charles.
Their first album, Bleed Your Cedar, featured guest appearances by
Lounge Lizard founder John Lurie and Downtown guitarist Marc Ribot. Elysian
Fields continues to grow into an international sensation, appearing to packed
houses in Europe, while maintaining a vibe stateside as an undiscovered treasure.
Meshell
Ndegeocello
Sunday, October 22 • 7pm
Regency Center Grand Ballroom, SF
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A member-by-member look at this avant-jazz super group
The
New York Times described Kamikaze Ground Crew (11/1) as “by
turns an oom-pah-pah circus band, an earnest pit orchestra, and
a bluesy septet.” As co-founder, composer, and multi-instrumentalist
Gina Leishman describes the band: “K. G. C. is indeed something
of a super-group these days —old friends who are all at the top
of their game, each a band-leader in their own right.”
To
take stock, here’s
a member-by-member look at the many projects and accomplishments
of this talented group of musicians and composers. Click on each
member’s
name for more info:
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