Meshell Ndegeocello shares the spacey “Virgo” featuring Brandee Younger and Julius Rodriguez. The song is from her first album for Blue Note The Omnichord Real Book. The R&B legend’s last album was her 2018 covers album Ventriloquism. She was featured on Robert Glasper’s Grammy-winning “Better Than I Imagined” with H.E.R. in 2020. She explained the new album’s title in a statement:

“This album is about the way we see old things in new ways. Everything moved so quickly when my parents died. Changed my view of everything and myself in the blink of an eye. As I sifted through the remains of their life together, I found my first Real Book, the one my father gave me. I took their records, the ones I grew up hearing, learning, remembering. My mother gifted me with her ache, I carry the melancholy that defined her experience and, in turn, my experience of this thing called life calls me to disappear into my imagination and to hear the music.”

Josh Johnson produced The Omnichord Real Book which has guest appearances from Jason Moran, Joan As Police Woman, Ambrose Akinmusire, Joel Ross, Thandiswa, Mark Guiliana and more. The new album comes out June 16th but can be pre-ordered now. 

Listen to Jalen Ngonda conjure up memories of Prince and Russell Thompkins Jr. with his falsetto-driven “If You Don’t Want My Love.” The prominent ’60s and ’70s influences can be traced back to the D.C. native’s father who introduced him to the Motown catalog as a kid. “If You Don’t Want My Love” is the Daptone artist’s third release coming after his two-sided debut single “What A Difference She Made” and “Just Like You Used To.”  Ngonda just wrapped up his North American tour and he is getting ready for the  European leg that starts in April. Tickets for his European shows are still available. 

Watch 2 Chainz and Hit-Boy talk to Angelo Moore aka Dr. Madd Vibe about his theremin and collection of saxophones. Their trip was the latest excursion for 2 Chainz’s Most Expensivest show. They found out that Moore’s musical tools are worth almost $1 million dollars. 

Punk band Big Joanie drop the video for “Your Words” on the same day as the first show of their inaugural North American tour. The trio has gone on tour in support of their Back Home album. They are touring more than 10 cities with their last date in June at Chicago’s Empty Bottle. The new video is taken from a live performance on the 2023 UK Tour. Their critically acclaimed Back Home sophomore album has brought punk to a new generation two years after their brooding cover of Solange’s “Cranes In The Sky.” Tickets are still available for some of the dates. 

                                                                                  Tour Dates

3/25: Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern

3/26: Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall

3/28: San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop

3/30: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo

3/31: Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room

5/19: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade – Purgatory

5/20: Nashville, TN @ Third Man Records

5/22: Washington, DC @ Songbyrd Music House

5/23: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s

5/25: Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool – SOLD OUT

5/26: Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right

5/29: Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz

5/30: Toronto, ON @ The Garrison

6/1: Columbus, OH @ Natalie’s Grandview

6/2: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle