Bassist

Vocalist

Political art is becoming increasingly important in times of increasing marginalization and simple truths – and not only in the USA. On her latest album, bassist and singer Meshell Ndegeocello enters an ever-changing dialogue with the life and work of African-American writer and queer civil rights activist James Baldwin. His fight for freedom is also her fight.

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Meshell Ndegeocello

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer Meshell Ndegeocello has been a powerful force in music for more than 30 years. Known for her genre-defying sound, she blends soul, R&B, jazz, hip hop, and rock with honesty and depth. Throughout her career, she has chosen artistic integrity over trends and substance over fame, building a devoted following drawn to her fearless creativity and emotional truth. In 2024 and 2025, she was recognized with back-to-back Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Jazz Album—further cementing her status as one of the most innovative and influential artists of her generation.

Berklee College of Music

The singular Meshell Ndegeocello honors James Baldwin in No More Water — a genre-defying work that “howls with clenched-teeth fury, sobs in soul-crushing despair, [and] prances in queer joy with cautious optimism” (DownBeat).

Yale University

### Event Description

**Event Title:** Meshell Ndegeocello presents No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin

**Date and Time:** Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 7:30 PM CT

**Venue:** Tryon Festival Theatre, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

**Event Overview:**
Join Grammy-winning bassist, singer, and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello for an extraordinary musical experience as she presents "No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin." This concert is a profound exploration of the works of American novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, and activist James Baldwin. Ndegeocello uses her music to convey the inspiration drawn from Baldwin’s words, focusing on themes that resonate deeply within the human condition.

**About Meshell Ndegeocello:**
Meshell Ndegeocello is renowned for her genre-defying music and her commitment to originality over trends. Her illustrious career includes collaborations with iconic artists such as the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Alanis Morissette, and Chaka Khan. She was one of the first artists signed to Madonna’s Maverick Records, and her debut album "Plantation Lullabies" featured the Grammy-nominated hit single "If That’s Your Boyfriend He Wasn’t Last Night." Her recent album, "The Omnichord Real Book," won her a 2023 Grammy Award.

**Special Note:**
This concert is part of a larger celebration, with Blue Note Records releasing "No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin" in August 2024 to honor Baldwin’s 100th birthday.

**Tickets:**
Tickets for this event are not yet available. Please check the Krannert Center website for updates.

**Support the Arts:**
Krannert Center extends deep gratitude to all Patron Sponsors and Corporate and Community Sponsors. If you believe in the life-affirming experiences that Krannert Center and the performing arts at Illinois make possible, please consider making a gift at [KrannertCenter.com/Give](http://KrannertCenter.com/Give).

**Contact Information:**
For more details, visit the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts website or contact their advancement office at advancementkrannertcenter.illinois.edu.

**Share This Event:**
Spread the word and share this event with friends and family to celebrate the legacy of James Baldwin through the transformative power of music.

Meshell Ndegeocello presents No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

For three decades, Meshell Ndegeocello has blazed an independent trail by combining elements of jazz, blues, hip-hop, rock and soul. Additionally, she is a critically acclaimed Grammy-winning instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. Meshell now shares her resonant, ever-evolving exploration of American novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, and activist James Baldwin. According to Ndegeocello, “Baldwin speaks about things that are very familiar within the human condition, and the most revolutionary music to me—the music that changed my life—is the songs about the inner struggle, the commonality of being human.” Moreover, a new recording of Ndegeocello’s Baldwin-inspired work is to be released for Baldwin’s Centenary on Blue Note Records on August 2nd, 2024.

Meshell Ndegeocello: Live at The Walker Art Center

Dakota

Meshell Ndegeocello’s decades-long has been a journey. Fans have come to expect the unexpected and followed her on sojourns into soul, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, rock, all bound by the search for love, justice, respect, and resolution. Those sonic investigations have defied and redefined the industry expectations for women, for queer artists, and for black music for over 30 years and she remains one of few women who write the music, sing the songs, and lead the band.

Ace Hotel

Drummer and Chicagoan Makaya McCraven, aptly referred to as a “cultural synthesizer,” has a unique gift for blending past, present and future into poly-textural arrangements of post-genre, jazz-rooted, 21st century folk music. For one illuminating evening, he is joined by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Meshell Ndegeocello.

Makaya McCraven with special guest Meshell Ndegeocello

Symphony Center

Returning after a magical, sold-out reunion on the Miner stage with pianist Jason Moran during the 2022-23 Season, GRAMMY-winning bassist, singer, and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello brings music from her 2023 Blue Note debut The Omnichord Real Book, with special guests. The Berlin-born Ndegeocello cut her teeth on Washington D.C.’s explosive go-go circuit in the 1980s and was one of the first artists signed to Madonna’s Maverick Records label, which released her landmark neo soul album Plantation Lullabies in 1993 — a blockbuster debut that included her twice GRAMMY-nominated hit single “If That’s Your Boyfriend (He Wasn’t Last Night).”

A GRAMMY winner and 11-time nominee, Ndegeocello built a career as an uncompromising artist whose deliriously funky and soulful work is a powerful commentary on race, gender issues, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Meshell Ndegeocello With Special Guests

SFJAZZ Center

Morley breathes sensuality into activism with her unabashed love songs, humorous takes on life, and outspoken lyricism. She returns home to Joe's Pub joined by her partner in shine, multi-instrumentalist/producer Chris Bruce, joined by the great Meshell Ndegeocello on bass, Jon Cowherd on piano, Yuval Lion on drums, Justin Hicks and Kenita Miller on vocal blessings. Together they bring their uplifting Global-Americana sound that is earthy, soulful, and ethereal — in praise of passion, courage, vulnerability and love. Prepare to be inspired.

Morley with Chris Bruce

Joe's Pub

Three-time Grammy winner Meshell Ndegeocello has spent more than 30 years creating music that blends soul, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and rock. Her songs explore themes of love, justice, and personal growth, all grounded in her signature groove.

Bassist, Vocalist

Meshell Ndegeocello

Events

Upcoming events

Mar 27, 2026

Meshell Ndegeocello · Strathmore

Apr 30, 2026

Meshell Ndegeocello · San Francisco Jazz

Past events

Mar 7, 2026

Meshell Ndegeocello · Elbphilharmonie

Feb 7, 2026

Meshell Ndegeocello · Celebrity Series of Boston

About

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