Jazz à Sète – Day 2 – Where energies meet

It’s an evening marked by transmission and spirituality. Our two headlining artists will be using the beautiful chapel of the Théâtre de la mer to get their message across. The meeting of energies.

Meshell Ndegeocello

The bassist and singer-songwriter took to the stage masked, but it wasn’t her slight cold that prevented the audience from giving a standing ovation to the performance by the woman dubbed ‘Prince’s heiress’. With a long and relevant career spanning more than 30 years, the artist has forged her musical path at the crossroads of several genres – funk, nu-soul, pop, hip-hop… His plethora of diverse compositions are bound together by the solid foundation provided by Meshell‘s bass and, at heart, by his quest for truth and justice.

Sète is blessed with a condensed version of this demanding musical journey. The compositions are anchored in a deep, warm groove. The crowd, already nodding compulsively, was filled with a very special vibe, especially when Meshell, armed with the translator in her phone, shared the phrases ‘Music is energy’, ‘My body is a vessel for you’, ‘I want you to listen to music with your ears, not your eyes’. A light breeze accompanies the set, a mystical breath.

Line-up

Meshell Ndegeocello – Bass, vocals
Abraham Rounds – Drums, vocals
Jebin Bruni – Keyboards, vocals
Chris Bruce – Guitar
Kyle Miles – Bass

Cory Henry

The organist, former member of Snarky Puppy, brings the energy of an evangelical preacher to this second concert of the evening. ‘If the music feels good to you, I want you to dance’, the message delivered by Cory Henry (whose latest album is entitled Church, Henry House Entertainment/Culture Collective) is fully heard by the Théâtre de la mer.

The Master of Ceremonies comes up with a string of ideas, organises the questions and answers, and sets up the rich, controlled atmosphere with his formidable musicians and backing vocalists. We’re really dealing with funk professionals. Vitality overflows from the stage and reaches every corner of the auditorium. Cory Henry demonstrates his great virtuosity on the organ and his ability to transform the crowd, transfixed by the performance.