No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin

Meshell Ndegeocello has survived the best and worst of what a career in music has to offer. She eschewed genre for originality, celebrity for longevity, and musical trends for musical truths. Fans have come to expect the unexpected and follow her on sojourns into soul, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, rock, all bound by the search for love, justice, respect, and resolution. Those sonic investigations have defied and redefined the expectations for women, for queer artists, and for black music for over 30 years and she remains one of few women who write the music, sing the songs, and lead the band.

A bass player above all else, Meshell brings her warm, fat, and melodic groove to everything she does. She has earned a Grammy award along with numerous nominations, and has played alongside the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Alanis Morrisette, James Blood Ulmer, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Tony Allen, John Medeski, Billy Preston, and Chaka Khan. As for her own bass-playing influences, she credits Sting, Jaco Pastorius, Family Man Barrett, and Stevie Wonder. Meshell is always grateful for the opportunity to share the stage and believes music is a fellowship. She looks to spread that gospel with every creation and collaboration.

Hailing from Chicago, Chris Bruce has been forging an illustrious career in music

since 1989. Working with diverse artists such as Seal, Lizz Wright, Sheryl Crow,

and My Brightest Diamond. Notably collaborating with Meshell Ndegeocello since

2007, co-produced her 2024 Grammy winning No More Water: The Gospel Of

James Baldwin

Jebin Bruni is a Los Angeles based multi-instrumentalist/composer who has

worked with Meshell Ndegeocello since 2011. He is honored to have been a

part of The Gospel Of James Baldwin since its very first performances in 2016.

Other artists he has worked with include Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainwright, Aimee

Mann, Tears For Fears, Public Image Ltd., Liz Phair, Marianne Faithfull and

Draco Rosa. His band Snow & Voices has released three albums and is

currently working on its fourth.

Justin Hicks is a songwriter, vocalist, and sound artist who has collaborated with

numerous musicians and artists, including Abigail DeVille, Kaneza Schaal, Cauleen

Smith, Meshell Ndegeocello, Hilton Als, Darius Jones, Steffani Jemison, Charlotte

Brathwaite, Sunder Ganglani, June Cross, Janani Balasubrumanian, and Toshi Reagon.

Spanning conceptual art, alternative jazz, experimental opera, avant-garde theater,

sound installation, and design, his work has been presented by Lincoln Center for the

Performing Arts, The Public Theater, Baryshnikov Art Center, Festival steirischer herbst

(Graz, AT), Symphony Space, JACK, The Bushwick Starr, and in the permanent

collection at The Albertinum in Dresden. Hicks was a member of Kara Walker’s 6-8

Months Space and holds a culinary diploma from ICE in New York City.

Born in Sydney, Australia, Abe’s musical journey began at just one year old when he

first picked up the drums. Now based in Los Angeles, he has built a career as a

Grammy-winning musician, producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is a core

member of Meshell Ndegeocello’s band and has collaborated with artists including Joni

Mitchell, Seal, Andrew Bird, Rick Rubin, Lizzo, Blake Mills, Pino Palladino and Mark

Ronson.

In 2024, Abe accepted a Grammy for his work as a co-producer, writer, and performer

on Meshell Ndegeocello’s Omni Chord Real Book, which took home Best Alternative

Jazz Album. That same year, he joined the legendary Joni Jam at the Hollywood Bowl,

performing alongside Joni Mitchell as her percussionist and drummer. In 2025, he

contributed to yet another Grammy-winning project, No More Water: The Gospel of

James Baldwin.

Beyond performance and recording, Abe has made an impact in film and television,

composing for multiple projects, including all seven seasons of Ava DuVernay’s Queen

Sugar on the OWN network. His drumming and percussion work have also been

featured in major films, including Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, where

he played alongside the late Robbie Robertson.

In 2021, Abe released his debut solo record on Colorfield Records, offering an intimate

look into his own artistry. His music is deeply influenced by his heritage—an ancestry

that traces to Fiji, Tonga, Hungary, and Iraq—informing a creative voice that bridges

cultures, histories, and sound.