At first, you might think it’s another album where Meshell covers songs from other artists, but it's not. This is her first album in almost 10 years that mainly consists of her own new songs. The last time she released an album with her original material was nine years ago with Comet, Come to Me. Five years ago, she did release an album called Ventriloquism, but that was all about covering other artists’ songs.
The Omnichord Real Book is also special because it's her first album with the famous Blue Note Records, a label known for its rich history in jazz music. Meshell has worked with Blue Note before, but in a supporting capacity, like helping out on Robert Glasper's Black Radio and contributing to albums by Jason Moran and Marcus Strickland.
Now, let's talk about the album's name, The Omnichord Real Book. It's inspired by two things: firstly, an instrument called the Omnichord which was created in the early 1980s and is similar to an Autoharp; and secondly, a famous book of jazz music sheets known as a Real Book. Meshell got one of these books from her dad and rediscovered it while sorting through her late parents' stuff. The Omnichord instrument itself is only featured in three songs on the album.
This album has a lot of people involved - more than 24 musicians and singers, who bring in a variety of sounds and emotions through their instruments and voices. There are people Meshell has worked with for a long time, like guitarist Chris Bruce and keyboardist Jebin Bruni, and also new collaborators like guitarist Jeff Parker and saxophonist Josh Johnson.
Despite the large number of artists involved, the album feels very personal and intimate, similar to Meshell's earlier works. The music style is diverse, ranging from soul and folk to funky grooves and Afrobeat rhythms.
Many of the songs have a sense of sadness or emotional pain, which is reflected in the lyrics and music. For example, in the song "Clear Water," Meshell sings, "Pain colors everything I touch."
However, there's a song called "Virgo" which stands out with its funky vibe. It features the bass playing of both Meshell and Chris Bruce, along with Brandee Younger's harp. This song has a slightly different mood but still isn’t completely joyful as it has a sense of longing.
In summary, The Omnichord Real Book is an album by Meshell Ndegeocello that features a mixture of musical styles and emotions, with contributions from a large ensemble of musicians. It’s her first album with Blue Note Records and marks her return to creating original music after nearly a decade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5cnEXOFYO8&list=OLAK5uy_kZa_jOeMQjeYtlMu5-o7PrgRlOhzuF72I&index=2
