Meshell Ndegeocello recently played Keystone Korner in Baltimore on her No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin Tour. Steve Satzberg was there to photograph the show!
The following article is adapted from a press release.
Last year, Meshell Ndegeocello released her second Blue Note album No More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin, a striking homage to the eminent writer and activist James Baldwin. The visionary work is at once a musical experience, a church service, a celebration, a testimonial, and a call to action. With her tour of No More Water, Ndegeocello embarked on a prophetic musical odyssey that transcends boundaries and genres, delving headfirst into race, sexuality, religion, and other recurring themes explored in Baldwin’s canon at Keystone Korner on March 25.
Nearly a decade in the making, the album’s origins began in 2016 during a performance at The Harlem Stage Gatehouse as part of their annual showcase honoring Baldwin. Ndegeocello had delved into Baldwin’s work the year before, including the seminal nonfiction work The Fire Next Time, which she considers “life-changing” and carries with her as a “spiritual text.” Ndegeocello said, “It was just a revelation to me, and it softened my heart in so many ways.”
Watch the official music video for “Trouble” by Meshell Ndegeocello on YouTube:
Following 2023’s The Omnichord Real Book, her acclaimed debut for Blue Note Records which won the inaugural GRAMMY Award for Best Alternative Jazz Album, the multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer renders an immersive and palpable document that is as sagacious, unabashed, and introspective as Baldwin was in life.
Co-produced by Ndegeocello and guitarist Chris Bruce, No More Water features some of the bassist’s frequent collaborators including Bruce, vocalist Justin Hicks, saxophonist (and Omnichord producer) Josh Johnson, keyboardist Jebin Bruni, and drummer Abe Rounds. Also appearing on various songs are a stellar group that includes vocalist Kenita-Miller Hicks, keyboardists Jake Sherman and Julius Rodriguez, and Executive Director of the NYCPS Arts Office and trumpeter Paul Thompson. The album also showcases spoken word by venerated poet Staceyann Chin and Pulitzer Prize-winning author and critic Hilton Als.
No More Water marks a significant moment of self-discovery for Ndegeocello. She adds that Baldwin entered her life at precisely the right time. “It came when I was ready to look in the mirror. I’ve had to play Plantation Lullabies at a few shows. Looking back, I had an interesting perspective, but the dialogue was limited. It was more like a cathartic experience for a young person of color, whereas now I’m going, ‘How can I get us all to love each other? How can I get us all to see this for what it is?’”
Catch Meshell Ndegeocello on tour!
Here are some photos of Meshell Ndegeocello performing at Keystone Korner on March 25, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Steve Satzberg.
Here are some photos of Jake & Abe opening Meshell Ndegeocello at Keystone Korner on March 25, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Steve Satzberg.
