Pioneer Works Broadcast

How You Sound?

Meshell Ndegeocello’s 2024 Blue Note release *No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin* is a sonic‑theatre album that translates James Baldwin’s essays into avant‑garde jazz, gospel, and spoken‑word. The eight‑year project features a rotating cast of musicians, including Justin Hicks and Abe Rounds, and was originally staged as a church‑like service. Pioneer Works will host a live performance of the work on March 29, 2026, tying the album to a broader cultural celebration of Baldwin’s centenary. The essay by Hilton Als frames the piece as a reclamation of Baldwin’s queer Black voice through music.