A record that really marks the sophisticated transformation of the Meshell Ndegeocello sound – a move from the more straightforward soul of her earlier releases, to the complicated mix of sounds that's almost made her a genre unto herself! Throughout the years, Meshell has been as much an instrumentalist as a singer – and that quality really comes through here in charts that use gentle strings and darker currents next to the midtempo rhythms of the tracks – really enriching the sound while the singer opens up with more honesty and personal energy than ever before! The whole thing works wonderfully together as a really unified suite of tracks – on titles that include "Bitter", "Satisfy", "Fool Of Me", "May This Be Love", "Sincerity", "Wasted Time", "Eve", "Grace", "Loyalty", and "Adam". Features bonus instrumental and alternate tracks! CD

Meshell Ndegeocello comes on with the force of a comet – and delivers one of her boldest records in years – a crackling set of cosmic soul tunes that have all the power of the singer in her early years! Meshell's definitely absorbed some of the headier elements of her varied projects over the past decade or so – including some stronger jazz elements, a respect for older roots, and even a complicated sense of rhythms – but she also moves forward with a focus and presence that we haven't heard this strongly in years – proud, righteous, mature, and very much her own self throughout the course of this wonderful album! Titles include "Friends", "Shopping For Jazz", "Conviction", "Folie A Deux", "Choices", "Modern Time", "American Rhapsody", "Tom", "Good Day Bad", and "Comet Come To Me". CD

Another dazzling batch of tunes from Meshell Ndegeocello – an incredible songwriter and performer who may have peaked commercially a few years back, but she is still maturing in ways that stretch far, far beyond the chart singles she scored in the past! The woman has never put out the same album twice; she kicked our collective arse last year with the dense, sinister hip hop funk of Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape. This time around she takes a celestial soul approach, with a lot of sweet and wispy, echoey flange guitar and vox organ in place of the gritty funk howl of the previous album. The album kind of comes of as a mix of sensual soul grooves, with all of the tripped out, drivingly mellow feel of our favorite forward-looking soul and jazz albums of the 70s and 80s. Still, this is an altogether modern and unique album that succeeds much more for the personality of the artist than it does for the bits of influence she's picked up throughout the years. Honestly, one of the very best soul albums we've heard on a major label in '03; we can only hope that the honchos at Maverick/WEA have an inkling of the depth of talent this woman carries around! Tracks include "Love Song (Pts 1, 2 and 3)", "Come Smoke My Herb", "Body", "Liliquoi Mood", "Fellowship", Good Intentions", "Faithful" and more. CD

There's been a big break since Meshell Ndegeocello's last album – but from the sound of the album, it's been worth it! One of the baddest soul singers of the past decade is back in business, and sounding better than ever – serving up a fierce blend of beats and vocals, done in a more laidback format than her previous albums, one that makes for an album that's even more compelling and personal. Titles include "Earth", "Criterion", "Barry Farms", "Legged Griot Trio", "God, Fear, Money", "Hot Night", "Priorities", "Trust", and "Akel Dama". CD

An incredible departure for Meshell Ndegeocello – a jazz-based project with a sound that's different than any of her other work! The album shows a depth that we never expected – a richly instrumental mode that's only touched by vocals on a few songs – and which is mostly territory explored by Meshell on bass, along with other jazz players that include Michael Cain on keyboards, Jack De Johnette on drums, and sax work from Kenny Garrett, Don Byron, Oliver Lake, and Oran Coltrane! 3 of the album's 8 tracks feature vocals – by Sabina, Cassandra Wilson, and Lalah Hathaway – and the tunes are all long, languid, and laidback – drifting along through some really moody territory. Titles include "Mu-Min", "Al Falaq 113", "Dance Of The Infidel", "The Chosen", "Luqman", and "Heaven". CD

A 90s classic from Meshell Ndegeocello – and one of the key records in showcasing how much new soul energy was beginning to brew up in the decade! The set forges an instant bridge between contemporary modes and the 70s – but all in a way that's freshly forward, not retro sleepy – as Meshell bursts forth with this voice that sets a whole new standard for female soul, and one that doesn't need to reference Aretha or Chaka, nor pretend it was raised on hip hop either! There's a power to the record that just gets stronger with each fresh listen – as you'll hear on titles that include "God Shiva", "Stay", "Bittersweet", "The Womb", "The Way", "Leviticus Faggot", "Deuteronomy Niggerman", "Ecclesiastes Free My Heart", "God Shiva", and her great cover of "Who Is He & What Is He To You". CD

This record, as we're sure you know, is a spunky bit of hip hop-inflected R&B, with the kind of sinister groove that got Me'Shell noticed immediately after the record was released. It got a bit overplayed and overblown at the time it was released – but it actually holds up well over the years, especially considering the wealth of modern soul singers who've been inspired by it. Includes the single "If That's Your Boyfriend", plus "I'm Diggin You", "Soul On Ice", "Call Me", and "Picture Show". CD

An amazing departure in sound for Meshell Ndegeocello – a record that firmly delivers on the earlier promise of her Article 3 EP! As with that one, the sound here is quite different than the funky soul of Meshell's earliest work back in the 90s – an almost-experimental blend of fuzz, funk, fusion, dub, and soul – served up with lots of darker undertones, and a range of rhythms that are sometimes pretty intense! There's almost an early 80s arty sort of feel going on – a mode that takes us back to that great time in the post-punk, post-disco years when barriers between styles had broken down a bit – allowing artists to express themselves in really unique new ways. And in a world where so many Neo Soul artists seem in danger of a high convergence of modes and cliches, Meshell's found some tremendous new territory for herself – and has reminded us that she's still got some much sharper edges than her contemporaries. A host of great guests really help Meshell find her groove here – including Sy Smith on vocals, Oliver Lake on saxophone, James Newton on flute, Robert Glasper on piano, and Graham Haynes on cornet. Titles include "Haditha", "Evolution", "Virgo", "Lovely Lady", "The Sloganeer Paradise", "Elliptical", "Shirk", "Article 3", "Headline", "Michell Johnson", and "Solomon". CD

Produced by Meshell Ndegeocello, with Christian McBride on bass and Sean Jones on flugelhorn. Includes a bonus disc with remixes by Dj Spinna, Osunlade, Carlos Mena, Transdub Massiv, and Jahi Sundance. CD

The start of an amazing new chapter in the career of Robert Glasper – one that would soon set the tone for a number of other records to come! This set features loads of Glasper's enigmatic piano lines – those fluid, elliptical sounds that are always filled with plenty of soul and imagination – matched here with guest vocals from a host of key talents – including Erykah Badu, Lalah Hathaway, Musiq Soulchild, Meshell Ndegeocello, Bilal, and Lupe Fiasco! The blend is surprisingly wonderful – not a sell out at all, but a way for Glasper's music to reach a rich new level of expression – as the vocals really help the instrumental elements come alive – and unlock this side of Robert's potential that was always lurking in the background. One of the best musical moments from Blue Note at the time – with titles that include "Always Shine", "Move Love", "Ah Yeah", "Lift Off", "Afro Blue", "Cherish The Day", "Black Radio", and "Letter To Hermione". Japanese pressing includes the bonus track "Twice". CD

Miguel Migs has often skewed more towards the soulful side of the house and otherwise club groove sound, and he does so on an even deeper level with Outside The Skylike! This one features a diverse roster of guests – and an impressive one, too – Meshell Ndegeocello, Bebel Gilberto, Capleton, Lisa Shaw, Evelyn Champagne King, Aya, Lisa Shaw and more! Really impressive work from Miguel, with timeless club soul influences going into inventive club grooves of his own unique inspiration. Includes "Tonight" and "Close Your Eyes" feat Meshell Ndegeocello, "Breakdown" and "Lose Control" with Lisa Shaw, "The Distance and "Don't Stop" feat Aya, "Life" feat Half Pint, "Changin'"f eat Sonny J Jameson, "The System" feat Capleton, "Getaway" with Georg Levin, "Zuzu" with Bebel Gilberto and more. CD

Produced by Meshell Ndegeocello, with Christian McBride on bass and Sean Jones on flugelhorn. CD

A stunner of a set from Jason Moran – hardly the easy Fats Waller tribute you might guess from the title, and instead a sweet electric session that's filled with soul, and a quality that's a real change from some of Moran's other music! The record was co-produced by Meshelle Ndegeocello, who also sings on the set at times – and it's got a blend of jazz and vocals that's not far from some of the other Blue Note projects of late – especially from the Roberg Glasper camp! A few tunes are definitely older Waller numbers, or standards that Fats might have played – but Moran's handling is very untraditional – with lots of Fender Rhodes or Wurlitzer organ, and vocals from singers who include Ndegeocello, Lisa Harris, Charles Haynes, and Leron Thomas. Thomas also plays trumpet, and the group also features trombone from Josh Roseman and tenor from Stephen Lehman – on titles that include "Put Your Hands On It", "Yacht Club Swing", "The Joint Is Jumpin", "Two Sleepy People", "Jitterbug Waltz", "Fats Elegy", and "Handful Of Keys". CD