Me'Shell Ndege'Ocello Dance Of The Infidel CD

Meshell Ndegeocello gives free rein to her desire for musical expression on her new album 'Dance Of The Infidels'. Joined by guest vocalists Cassandra Wilson, Sabina Scuba and Lalah Hathaway and instrumentalists Kenny Garrett and Roy Hargrove. Emarcy. 2005.

Personnel: Me'Shell Ndegéocello (programming); Lalah Hathaway, Cassandra Wilson (vocals); Gregoire Maret (harmonica, horns); Don Byron, Josh Roseman, Kenny Garrett, Oliver Lake, Wallace Roney, Oran Coltrane (horns); Michael Cain , Neal Evans (piano, keyboards); Didi Gutman (keyboards, programming); Federico Gonzalez Peña (keyboards); Gene Lake, Jack DeJohnette, Chris Dave (drums); Dan Rieser (clay drum); Mino Cinelu, Yosvany Terry (percussion); Takuya Nakamura, Ari Raskin (programming).
Audio Mixers: Ari Raskin; Bob Power.
Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY (03/01/2003-03/04/2003); Chez Bob (03/01/2003-03/04/2003); Chung King Studios, New York, NY (03/01/2003-03/04/2003); Lunchbox Studios, New York, NY (03/01/2003-03/04/2003).
Arranger: Michael Cain .
Filling the roles of central artist, composer, and director, Me'Shell Ndegéocello takes a left turn with Dance of the Infidel, a very loose affair that nonetheless flows with a natural grace. It is, for the most part, a jazz album, indicated by a shifting lineup that includes Jack DeJohnette, Oliver Lake, Don Byron, and Kenny Garrett, along with vocal turns from Cassandra Wilson, Lalah Hathaway, and Sabina Sciubba. The album is bound to challenge a good number of Ndegéocello's fans (particularly the ones with limited interest or familiarity with the form), but they needn't feel as if they're in over their heads. Little cracks in the bassist's past work have opened up to be fully explored -- it's hardly a 180, with her warm, bobbing bass adaptable to any context. And since the album is split almost evenly between sprawling 12-minute pieces and song-based material, it's liable to please both sides in some measure. Compared to Ndegéocello's past albums, Dance of the Infidel isn't as enveloping or moving (a couple spells are particularly dry, and many will miss not hearing the bassist's vocals), but it's full of bright colors, and not without its pleasures. As always, wondering where she'll take you next is part of the fun. ~ Andy Kellman
Filling the roles of central artist, composer, and director, Me'Shell Ndegéocello takes a left turn with Dance of the Infidel, a very loose affair that nonetheless flows with a natural grace. It is, for the most part, a jazz album, indicated by a shifting lineup that includes Jack DeJohnette, Oliver Lake, Don Byron, and Kenny Garrett, along with vocal turns from Cassandra Wilson, Lalah Hathaway, and Sabina Sciubba. The album is bound to challenge a good number of Ndegéocello's fans (particularly the ones with limited interest or familiarity with the form), but they needn't feel as if they're in over their heads. Little cracks in the bassist's past work have opened up to be fully explored -- it's hardly a 180, with her warm, bobbing bass adaptable to any context. And since the album is split almost evenly between sprawling 12-minute pieces and song-based material, it's liable to please both sides in some measure. Compared to Ndegéocello's past albums, Dance of the Infidel isn't as enveloping or moving (a couple spells are particularly dry, and many will miss not hearing the bassist's vocals), but it's full of bright colors, and not without its pleasures. As always, wondering where she'll take you next is part of the fun. [An import edition was released in 2005.] ~ Andy Kellman

Down Beat (pp.68-69) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Ndegeocello is arranging atmospheres on this album; utterly nuanced piano and guitar lines prance above the bass and drum groove, making her minimalist tendencies glow with emotional power..."
JazzTimes (p.99) - "It stands a chance of being the finest chillout record of 2005."
Vibe (p.143) - "This jazz improv creates a euphonious groove..."