Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BILL
LEIGH
'It's true," chuckles tJjeShell NdegeOcello. "I can't reach the tuning pegs on my
bass when it's strapped on." Here's evidence that size doesn't matter: Though she
stands only five feet tall, the bandleader's giant sense of groove is only a small part
of her stature as a creative musical art1st. Looking for proof? Check her new album,
Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape, due to hit stores in April. Though MeShell's last
release, Bitter, took a distinct left tum into lush string sounds and moody acoustic guitars, Cookie features her solidly funky bass playing along with her powerful compositions, provocative lyrics, an imaginative use of speeches and spoken-word samples,
and a considerable dose of hip-hop flavor. Produced by her long-time guitarist, Allen
Cato, Cookie also includes contributions from P-Funk guitarist Michael Hampton,
singer Lalah Hathaway, and her long-time friend Marcus Miller, who contnbutes a
beautiful fretless solo.
Onstage it's a different stature story: Her seasoned band-Gato, keyboardist
Federico Pena, drummer Gene Lake, and bassist David Dyson-transform MeShell's
carefully crafted songs into soulful meditations that draw on avant-garde jazz improv
as much as deep funk. "I'm just going to tell you some stones," was her understated introduction to one small town audience, packed into a converted theatre.
"Is that cool?"
Whether she's singing, rapping, or playing keyboards, MeShell maintains an
onstage control of her band as if they were a direct extension of her conscious creative flow. When she straps on the bass, though, the energy intensifies. "She has a
conviction on the bass I very seldom see in other players: says Dyson, himself an
accomplished player. [See page 48.] "She won't rip off a Victor Wooten solo, but
she'll groove you to death. I love those moments on the gig- we never plan it,
PHOTOGRAPH
BY
PAUL
HAGGARD
Ill
Do yott consider yourselfa songwriterfirst or a bass
player firsr?
I love the bass-and the way I play is very
much my personality. I'm all right standing way
behind whoever's up front, just holding down a
46
IIASS PLAYER
MARCH
2002
Cookie Cutters
On all four solo albums. MeShell has
recorded primarily with her pre-CBS
than your previous record, I1ittfr, yetyou're not playing as mudt bass live as you did on tht Bitter tour?
People say there's not a lot of bass on 8itter,
and that it's not funl..-y. I'm like, whatever. I like
the bass on Bitter, it's beautifully legato, it's cool,
and it sounds good. As a bass player, when some
one calls me for a gig, I am there to implement
their needs, not my ego. The music I wrote for
Bitter called for that bass style. Live, though, the
Bitter tour was the first time I ever tried singing
and playing_ As it evolved, I realized I could play
a little more wh ile singing. I noticed Jimi Ht:n-
& Fire singer Philip Bailey, and he plans to begin recording his second solo CD this spring.
Onstage, MeShell and David have to balance differences in playing style and sound. "Our
styles are different in the way our personalities are different. I tend to take liberties while still
mamtaining the groove. She's no-nonsense-she gets right into it. In terms of sound, I like a
brighter, crisper top end, though I back off a bit on her gig. She likes a full, fat bottom and
mids, and just the bottom of the treble range. I've learned a Jot from her both as a player and
a bandleader. She's in total control onstage:
The respect is mutual. "David is one of my favorite bass players,"
says MeShell. 'He has a beautiful sense of harmony and melody. lfs
funky, but there's lyrical stuff intertwined in it."
48
BAS S
PL A YeR
MARCH
2002
TUBE
HYBRID
The moods on Bitter and~ are totally different. Are there some moods that make you want
to pick up the bass more?
Oh, no. There's three years between each of
my records, and in between I change and grow
and hear new things I like. Before Cookie, I was
getting into Outkast, some Master P, and Incubus,
but I also was listening to a lot of"out" stuffWeather Report, Miles Live at the Fillmore East
Continued on page
BASS AMPLIFIER
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BASS PLAYER
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MARCH
2002
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