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Meshell Ndegeocello

First Listen: Jason Moran, 'All Rise: A Joyful Elegy For Fats Waller'

Jason Moran. Clay Patrick McBride/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Clay Patrick McBride/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Jason Moran, 'All Rise: A Joyful Elegy For Fats Waller'

Fats Waller sang, emceed, told jokes, wrote hits, and played mean piano. Decades later, a fellow jazz pianist tries to capture his life-of-the-party spirit with drastically new versions of his tunes.

All Rise: A Joyful Elegy For Fats Waller

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.
Meshell Ndegeocello On World Cafe

Meshell Ndegeocello. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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World Cafe

Meshell Ndegeocello On World Cafe

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The bassist, singer and songwriter performs music from her new album (Comet, Come To Me) and discusses how Nina Simone's work influences her own.

Meshell Ndegeocello On World Cafe

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To Sign Or Not To Sign: Artists Big And Small Face The Label Question

Philadelphia punk trio Cayetana (left to right: Allegra Anka, Kelly Olsen, Augusta Koch) will release its debut on the small indie label Tiny Engines later this year. Mary Ferrigno/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Mary Ferrigno/Courtesy of the artist

Music News

To Sign Or Not To Sign: Artists Big And Small Face The Label Question

Land a deal with a label or put out records on your own: Both options carry big risks. For musicians today there's a middle ground, but getting your songs in front of people will still cost you.

To Sign Or Not To Sign: Artists Big And Small Face The Label Question

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First Listen: Meshell Ndegeocello, 'Comet, Come To Me'

Meshell Ndegeocello's new album, Comet, Come to Me, comes out June 3. Jason Rodgers/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jason Rodgers/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Meshell Ndegeocello, 'Comet, Come To Me'

The iconoclastic singer's 11th album is the sort of rich work that keeps changing inside the listener's head — an often-quiet set of songs with intense staying power.

Comet, Come To Me

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.
Listen: Meshell Ndegeocello Trades Songs And Stories

Meshell Ndegeocello's latest album is Comet, Come To Me. Jason Rodgers/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jason Rodgers/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Listen: Meshell Ndegeocello Trades Songs And Stories

The bassist and songwriter gave a secret show in Los Angeles this weekend, and NPR's Arun Rath was there. Hear their conversation and selections from the concert.

Meshell Ndegeocello Trades Songs And Stories, Live In L.A.

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Hear Four Musicians Talk About What Moves Them

NPR Music's Ann Powers (right) interviews musicians (from left) Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Alynda Lee Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff, Sharon Jones and Meshell Ndegeocello at the EMP Pop Conference in Seattle. Brady Harvey hide caption

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Brady Harvey

The Record

Hear Four Musicians Talk About What Moves Them

Sharon Jones, Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, Meshell Ndegeocello and Hurray For The Riff Raff's Alynda Lee Segarra shared struggles and successes in a joint interview at the EMP Pop Conference in Seattle.

Sharon Jones, Mike McCready, Meshell Ndegocello And Alynda Lee Segarra On Stage

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Concerts

MeShell NdegeOcello in Concert

XPN

NdegeOcello's name means "free like a bird," which describes her mix of funk, soul, R&B, hip-hop, reggae, rock, and jazz — as well as lyrics that explore race, sex, gender, and more. NdegeOcello performs a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia.

MeShell NdegeOcello in Concert

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Meshell Ndegeocello Honors Simone's 'Sovereign Soul'

Meshell Ndegeocello says she hopes her new album, a tribute to Nina Simone, revives interest in the work and life of the late artist. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Music Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello Honors Simone's 'Sovereign Soul'

The singer and bassist performs a legend's songs on her latest album, Pour Une Âme Souveraine: A Dedication to Nina Simone.

Meshell Ndegeocello Honors Simone's 'Sovereign Soul'

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World Cafe

MeShell NdegeOcello: Complex and Provocative

XPN

NdegeOcello's name means "free like a bird," which describes her mix of funk, soul, R&B, hip-hop, reggae, rock, and jazz — as well as lyrics that explore race, sex, gender, and more. NdegeOcello gives an interview and performance on WXPN.

MeShell Nedgéocello in Studio on World Cafe 1/31/08

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