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A bass player above all else, Meshell brings her signature warm, fat, and melodic groove to everything she does. Canonized, marginalized or just scrutinized, she has given up trying to explain herself. After 20+ years in an industry that has called her everything from avant garde to a dying breed, what unquestionably remains is the fearsome bassist, prolific songwriter and the creativity and curiosity of an authentic musical force. With that, she has earned critical acclaim, the unfailing respect of fellow players, songwriters and composers, and the dedication of her diverse, unclassifiable fans.
Meshell has released 9 albums since 1993. She was one of the first artists signed to Madonna's Maverick Records, which released her first 5 albums.
Meshell has played on albums by The Rolling Stones, John Mellencamp, Madonna, Santana, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Guru's Jazzmatazz, Chaka Khan, Indigo Girls, Ledisi, Alanis Morissette, Joan Osborne, Basement Jaxx, Soulive, Gilles Peterson, Joshua Redman Elastic Band, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Madeleine Peyroux, Miguel Miggs and Zenith Myth among many others.
Meshell's music has been featured on film soundtracks including Batman & Robin, Love Jones, Money Talks, Down in the Delta, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, The Hurricane, Love & Basketball, Standing in the Shadows of Motown, Talk to Me and Soul Men among others.
Supported The Who's Quadrophenia shows at Madison Square Garden, as well as supporting tours with both Sting and Dave Matthews Band.
Television appearances include: Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, The Chris Rock Show (HBO), Sessions At West 54th, New York Undercover (Fox), Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, MTV's Loveline, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, VH1 Honors, MTV Video Music Awards and MTV Movie Awards with John Mellencamp, In Living Color (FOX), The Arsenio Hall Show and Last Call with Carson Daly among others.
Meshell was the first woman to be featured on the cover of Bass Player magazine in April 1995. She was featured on the cover for the second time in November 2007.
Festival appearances include: Glastonbury Music Festival; Neil Young's Bridge School Benefit; Estádio do Pacaembu Free Jazz Festival (Brazil), toured with the HORDE Festival; toured twice with Lilith Fair; Nice Jazz Festival (France); Montreux Jazz Festival; Pori Jazz Festival (Finland); North Sea Jazz Festival; Bumbershoot Music Festival (Seattle); WOMAD Festival; Westport Festival (Germany); Copenhagen Jazz Festival; Monza Rock Festival (Italy); Montreal Jazz Festival; Essence Music Festival (New Orleans); Music City Jazz & Heritage Festival (Nashville); Newport Jazz Festival; KCRW's World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl; JVC Jazz Festival at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center; Wiesen Jazz Festival (Austria); JVC Jamboree Jazz Festival (Poland); San Francisco Jazz Festival; Oslo Jazz Festival (Norway); Sziget Festival (Hungary); Green Apple Festival (Chicago); Utah Pride (Salt Lake City); Pride Texas Festival (Austin); SF Pride (San Francisco); Calgary Folk Music Festival (Canada); Blues & Ritmes (Spain); Banlieues Bleues (France); Auditorium Parco Della Musica (Rome, Italy); Stockholm International Jazz Festival; The Hague Jazz Festival; Vancouver International Jazz Festival; Victoria International JazzFest. |
