Bassist, vocalist, and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello is joined by her Berklee College of Music mentee, guitarist Chanelle Ignant for this special episode of our duet series. The two find common ground on a Wayne Shorter classic and go deep on the teacher-student relationship.

Our Alone Together series is a celebration of spontaneous creation, presenting exclusive and unrehearsed duo performances captured live in the intimacy of the SFJAZZ Center. Whether they’re longtime collaborators or meeting on stage for the first time, these world class artists are improvisors of the highest level, creating powerful musical dialogues in the moment.

On this episode, bassist, vocalist, and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello is joined by her Berklee College of Music mentee, guitarist Chanelle Ignant. The two find common ground on Wayne Shorter’s classic “Footprints” and have an enlightening conversation that traces their histories and how their musical connection has branched out from a teacher/student relationship to being on-stage collaborators.

GRAMMY-winning bassist, singer, and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello cut her teeth on Washington D.C.’s explosive go-go circuit in the 1980s and was one of the first artists signed to Madonna’s Maverick Records label, which released her landmark neo soul album “Plantation Lullabies” in 1993. She built a career as an uncompromising artist whose deliriously funky and soulful work is a powerful commentary on race, gender issues, and LGBTQ+ rights and has released 14 albums as a leader.

Oakland-based guitarist Chanelle Ignant is a remarkably accomplished musician, composer, and educator who has performed with Artelia Green and the Bandanas, Be Steadwell, Angel Adedokun, and many others. She was named an awardee of the Next Jazz Legacy apprenticeship and mentorship program through the Berklee College of Music by NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington, leading to her work with Meshell Ndegocello.

As an SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director, Ndegeocello presented "The People's Playlist" on April 30 and May 1, 2026 — a program devoted to music that speaks to the tradition of protest during times of unrest and upheaval in America.

Personnel:

Meshell Ndegeocello: bass, vocals
Chanelle Ignant: guitar