The Green Room

By Charlie Pingel

Aug. 2, 2024, would have marked legendary writer and activist James Baldwin’s 100th birthday. In celebrating his legacy, 12-time Grammy-nominee Meshell Ndegeocello has crafted a powerful tribute through her 14th studio album and latest release, “No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin.” On Sept. 28, she will bring this deeply personal and resonant work to life on stage at Shannon Hall.

Keep reading to explore the connection between Baldwin’s words and Ndegeocello’s new music, the near-decade-long journey behind this album, and why you won’t want to miss this live performance.

James Baldwin was a prominent writer, playwright, and activist whose work challenged societal norms and explored the complexities of race, sexuality, and identity. His thought-provoking essays such as “The Fire Next Time,” and novels like “Go Tell It on the Mountain” have left a lasting mark on American literature and social discourse.

Meshell Ndegeocello’s connection to Baldwin’s work is deeply rooted and has evolved over eight years. In 2016, she was commissioned by Harlem Stage to create “Can I Get a Witness? The Gospel of James Baldwin,” a multidisciplinary stage show inspired by religious services. The production featured passages from Baldwin’s writings, call-and-response segments, original music and spoken word, and video recordings of Baldwin. Much like Baldwin’s original works, the show was designed to evoke strong emotions and reflections on social and political issues.

This project later evolved into “Chapter & Verse: The Gospel of James Baldwin,” a multimedia performance that won a 2019 Creative Capital Award. Described as a “21st-century ritual toolkit for justice,” it continued the themes of Baldwin’s writings, blending music, spoken word, and visual art to create a powerful narrative.

The project saw further edits in 2020 following the events of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, returning to live productions at Bard College in September of 2020.

 Learn more about Ndegeocello’s inspiration for the album in her conversation with Blue Note Records President, Don Was, in the interview below.

Following her 2024 Grammy win for Best Alternative Jazz Album, “The Omnichord Real Book; No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin” marked Meshell Ndegeocello’s second release under Blue Note Records.

The album features contributions from collaborators such as Chris Bruce, Justin Hicks, and Julius Rodriguez, as well as spoken word pieces from Hilton Als and Staceyann Chin, who was originally featured in Ndegeocello’s 2016 project. The album also includes writings from Baldwin and Audre Lorde, notably in tracks “The Baldwin Manifesto I” and “Thus Sayeth The Lorde.”

“The album is vivid about the ways in which the American past recurs in the present. It also feels like a reckoning with how true peace could sound.”-The New York Times

Since its Aug. 2 release, “No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin” has received widespread acclaim for its exploration of Baldwin’s messages and modern relevance, with critics praising Ndegeocello’s ability to weave together music, spoken word, and social commentary.

Don’t miss the chance to experience this powerful work live on Sept. 28 at Shannon Hall and be part of an evening that ensures James Baldwin’s voice is as loud as ever.