Artists; Me'Shell NdegéOcello and her amazing band.
Occasion; The release of Meshell's mostly instrumental jazz improv album The Spirit Music Jamia; Dance Of The Infidel
Location; Paradiso, Amsterdam.
Orgers in Attendance; Gooey & Abierman.
Lurkers in Attendence; Fhunkin and Sander.
People attached; Abierman brought the ever wonderful Meggie and introduced me to Tom, Sander introduced me to his brother, Fhunkin brought a bunch of friends, of which I remember Niels the best, the guy with that wonderful smile and big hands.
Orgers that should have been there and should hit themselves over the head for not being there; Dawntreader and Istenszek.
Audience in Attendence; a real nice mix of ecclectic hip people that for the most part understood the groove...I met alot of friends there and was shaking hands continuesly. Really loverly...

First things first; Thank you Abierman, for pointing out the until now French only release of Meshell's album. And for pointing out the ticket and scoring me one.

Abierman has been SUCH a faithfull buddy ever since I met him and we have seen some of the most memorable concerts I have seen of late together. Always while enjoying that much deserved much LoL

And A., when I was waiting for the tram, and you were finished 'pinning', Tom walked out in front of you and you did THAT thing again. You don't even KNOW you are doing it, but it is the most endearing thing I can imagine for a 6'4" guy to do. Believe me.

Okay. The concert. First comes on the DJ Prince can only dream of. The guy started laying out some grooves, spinning some tunes that got heads bobbing, when the band just walks on in their casual clothes. Never a frilly one, Meshell came on wearing comfy clothes and her wooly orange cap.

The band consisted of the dj, the drummer, two sax players, of which one also played clarinet, a keyboardplayer and Meshell.

They started jamming over the DJ's groove and then the DJ took off the record and the band took over, even though the DJ kept adding great touches throughout the entire set.

All the songs were songs from Dance Of The Infidel or jams, but most music was straight from the album. I like the new album, but had not 'broken' it for myself yet. But when Meshell plays the material live it makes sense immediately.

She introduced most songs, but I have a lousy memory, so I cannot help you with an exact setlist. Her first introduction promised an entire freestyle jazz performance and she said something about that hopefully we would be as open to it as the band was... I liked that.

The entire performance was amazing. The band invoked the spirit of John Coltrane's and Miles Davis' music; I am a huge Jack Johnson fan (the Miles Davis album) and it felt like the band was channeling that spirit. I felt priviliged to be part of that spirit.

The band did not play a long set, but the quality of the music was so high that time for me stretched somewhat and it felt longer. Good artist do not have to play hours for me to give me the sense I got worth for my money. If a band can lift my soul in five minutes I would be fine with it. I think in total they played for 90 minutes or so, playing two encores.

Of course, being around Orgers you cannot be surprised when Abierman yells in your ear about how he expects Prince to jump onstage,
Sander afterwards said he missed the groove, by which I think he missed a tight drum and bass, but it does not work that way with 'real' jazz. It's lots of sounds and beats and notes, invoking a feeling more than song structure.

BTW; the drummer was unbelievable. He could lay down grooves in ways I am not used to anymore. I often see bands where the drum is indeed tight, and not as freestyle as this guy was.
The DJ also was a gift. Me and a friend of mine both singled him out as a highlight of the performance, for the soundscapes he added and as well as the grooves between the songs, sometimes out of which a new song would start. I told some people I think this is the kind of DJ/band interaction Prince can only dream of, just as the entire performance to me is what I would have liked Xpectation to have been and what N.E.W.S. only was at certain times.

It is funny how both Prince and Meshell are working with DJ's and don't like Prince's choices, but love Meshell's.
Also, how I loved the way Meshell incorporated racial issues into her Cookie album without infuriating me, but how disappointed I was with Prince’s view on things on songs like Avalanche and albums like The Rainbow Children.
Best, how Prince can turn to jazz and seems an imitator, but Meshell seems to channel the spirit of the people they both adore. I already had this feeling when I heard Cookie, but now that feeling got reinforced.

So, my evening was amazing. Great people, amazing music. The only downside was that I was able to direct Abierman and the rest to a little club where Meshell was supposed to play a DJ set, but I had to go home myself because hey! I have been up for ages, I am broke and I had to catch the last train to be able to get home and sleep into tomorrow (actually today already) and enjoy my first off day in an entire week before I head into another working week where I have to work six days in a row.

And while typing this Abierman just sent me a text message that I am missing out… without giving ANY details. Oh well; I am happy he and Tom are at least having another great experience.

He will brief you about what the DJ set was all about.

I am off!


[Edited 4/10/05 5:23am]

PS, if you are quick you can catch Meshell playing a DJ set at Kamer 401 in Amsterdam, LoL

I am misiing out too!

I saw that same show last year in New Orleans, with the DJ! And yes that Dj does kick ass!! Believe it or not i bumped into him within the French Quarters and chatted with him few a brief sec. He's pretty chill.

Glad you were able to witness that Gooey and friends.

Oh, and I also caught Meshell sitting in with this latin jazz quartet the night before at this voodoo temple called the 'Chez Vodun'

Huey.....you nailed it down to the spot!!!! I just got home and I'm too drunk to write a decent review of the afterparty! Special mention for me must be for the sax-player.....during the show I told Huey: 'I've never heard Candy or Eric Leeds blow the horn like that!', he agreed.....

MPLSgenius orgnoted me, telling me she'd be there....I just found out.....bummer, it would have been so cool! Also great to finally meet Fhunkin!!!

Like I said.....afterpaty review is coming....tommorow! Yo soy boarchio..... or something!

Gooey, I'm 6'5".....Meshell couldn't even suck my nipples while standing.....I kissed her on the cheek though (my knees still hurt!)....

abierman said:

You're from the city of Drunk?

sinisterpentatonic said:

??? borachio???? what the fuck???? we also smoke!

and fuck Morissey for ever have sung: 'Hang the DJ....'




tooo drunk.....be back tomorrow!

who is ME'Shell NdegeOcello ?

HamsterHuey said:

I had just scored 200 euros.....what do you expect????? And I don't know what the fuck you're talking about.....

HamsterHuey said:

She is, isn't she? Such a strong woman.....I admire her!

Xavier23 said:

http://www.freemyheart.com/smj.html

Xavier23 said:

who are you??? nevermind.....as if anyone cares.....

abierman said:

Abierman, could you send me some of that smoke you had tonight?

abierman said:

I love her. Too bad I get to see so little of her. She ALWAYS smiles. She always lifts my spirit by just being her.

We should hang more often.

sinisterpentatonic said:

LoL

Yeah, the show was amazing! It was the last show on the tour, so she and her bandmates were really emotional and open.

I hope Abierman is writing that aftershow report RIGHT NOW...

Just knowing he's got an autograph, he kissed her and heard her spin George Clinton is not enough. I need impressions.

Okay

The two best non-musical Abierman moments;

Abierman Hugging both me and Fhunkin and telling us we should date. A., you are the baddest 'koppelaar' in the world, lol. But I liked your attempt, hehehe.

And then, I will say it one more time; catching A. doing what he denied doing earlier. IF I was Sophie and saw that 6'5" guy do THAT, I would immediately send him an e-mail.

HamsterHuey said:

Sophie will call me within the next 3 hours.....I just feel it....stay tuned to 96.8 FM and hear me making an ass of myself....just got up, give me some time on the review!

abierman said:

Will your heart be broken if she does not?

abierman said:

I had mine pinned in 30 minutes!

Okay, so the show was over and there was word that Meshell and her posse would be spinning the wheels in a small club down the street, Room 401. So we all left Paradiso, Gooey & Meggy had to go home unfortunately, Fhunkin had to go work....bummer! So after we said goodbye, I got some cash from the ATM and apparently did my little jiggle (didn't know you were watching, Gooey!).
So Thom & I headed to Room 401 which was crowded already with cool people, some I recognized being at Paradiso as well. Got some drinks and bopped our heads to the cool music, a mixture of obscure (but very groovy) hiphop, reggea-dub, breakbeats, and some old school funk and a touch of deep-house now& then....
Then we saw Meshell's DJ taking place, the crowd cheered by recognition, he was kinda surprised.....or just stoned. He started playing even more funk, some old-school JB and then some more funky groove-instrumentals. This was definitely a great bland of some of the best 'black'-music I have heard in a while, and all of a sudden he kicks in New Order's 'Blue Monday'.....that was one of the last tracks I had expected, but it worked....the crowd went even more ballistic! Some Parliament-/GC-tracks passed by and then he pumped up the volume really high and there came the guitar-intro of 'When Doves Cry'.....so cool.
Meshell had arrived, she wasn't really spinning the wheels but she was picking the records for her DJ, while sucking on a big ole' joint!
I walked up to her with pen & paper, asked her roadie if I could talk to her and that was okay. So she came and was clearly shocked seeing how tall I am, she smiled. I told her how I loved the show and the she & her band are amazing musicians. She told me that her new 'regular' album will be coming out in May. I said:'Next month?' and she looked at me as if I were stoopid and said 'yes'! I then asked if she'll be touring that album as well but she didn't answer. She signed the piece of paper, I will scan it on Monday (don't have a scanner at home).
I went back to Thom, got some more rum & Coke and jammed to the music. Then we could in touch with two girls so I started talking to one of them using one of my famous & effective pick-up lines:'are the two of you sisters?' Always works.....got her number!
After a while Thom & left and while standing on the sidewalk waiting for a cab, Meshell walked out with her Keyboard-player, Michael Caine (not the actor!). This dude was also very nice, we chatted about music and Meshell joined the conversation.....my moment to ask her:'Meshell, when will you do something with Prince?' She smiled and said something like: 'that would be cool!'
I told Michael Caine that he kicks Renato Neto's ass and he said I gave him too much credit....he was flattered. Then we all left!

What a night, Gooey did a great review of the show. What he said about the DJ is the same what Thom & I were talking about during the show. They took jazz and made it their own, bringing it to a whole new level. This is the future-sound of jazz....very very cool!

HamsterHuey said:

yes.....but at least I've tried! and that makes me cool!

Kewl review mate!

Especially the pick up line, LoL

I kinda missed her voice at the show.....but still, it was great!

orgNote: Meshell
From: minneapolisgenius (click to see profile)
Subject: Meshell
Linked to: http://www.prince.org/profile/abierman
Sent: Sat Apr 9 2005 8:50am

-----
Hey there,
You said you and Gooey were going to Meshell's show, right? Well, I got a ticket because my friend had an extra, so maybe I'll see you guys there. I have no idea where we'll be standing in the venue, but we usually go upstairs and stand on the stage right side. I'll look for you. I think I know what you and Gooey look like.




really sorry about this, would have loved to have met you! Maybe you wanna join us to The Arcade Fire in Paradiso at May 11th! Gooey's getting ticks.....I hope!

I rule.....

abierman said:

Well, things DEFINITELY didn't go as planned, and I passed out right as she was beginning their 2nd song.

We ended up on the main level for some reason, and I just couldn't breathe all of the sudden. Everyone was smoking and I guess it was just too hot as well. Anyway, if anyone saw someone pass out right behind the downstairs bar while trying to get through the crowd, it was me.

They carried me to a back room where the medical table was, and I stayed there for the rest of the show. My sweet friend Angelo stayed with me the entire time though because we had more people there that were still watching the show. So needless to say, I missed it.

minneapolisgenius said:

Sorry to hear that! No, I didn't see you, we were standing in trhe front on the left-hand side!


About the DJ: his name is Jahi Sundance Lake,
http://www.jahisundance.com/index.html

minneapolisgenius said:

Well, things DEFINITELY didn't go as planned, and I passed out right as she was beginning their 2nd song.

We ended up on the main level for some reason, and I just couldn't breathe all of the sudden. Everyone was smoking and I guess it was just too hot as well. Anyway, if anyone saw someone pass out right behind the downstairs bar while trying to get through the crowd, it was me.

They carried me to a back room where the medical table was, and I stayed there for the rest of the show. My sweet friend Angelo stayed with me the entire time though because we had more people there that were still watching the show. So needless to say, I missed it.[/quote]


Hope you're alright!