Meshell Ndegeocello Tonight at the Triple Door

Meshell Ndegeocello has been the future of funk for 16 years, confidently acting up in moments of spacey 21st century funk and/or powerful punk attitude. Few musicians share the musical range of Ndegeocello, a jane of all trades multi-instrumentalist, soul lyricist, sometime rapper, R&B, rock, and jazz phenom. She’s worked with the Rolling Stones, John Cougar Mellencamp, Alanis Morissette, the Indigo Girls, Basement Jaxx, and many others, but none of her collaborations or session gigs come close to mimicking her solo abilities, making most listeners glad that she didn’t score that position as Living Colour’s bassist back in '92.

As this show is part of the Earshot Jazz Festival, it stands to reason that the set might trend toward the jazz/R&B end of her spectrum, putting her jamming conglomerate to full use. It’s sure to please. But opening up with a little rock power would be welcome as well, especially with Bloc Party-challenging winner "Sloganeer" and her excellent live cover of Joy Division’s "Wilderness." The bottom line, if Meshell Ndegeocello unleashes that attitude, the Triple Door will rock.

7:30 p.m. // Triple Door 216 Union Street // $26-$32