GRAMMY-winning shapeshifting artist Meshell Ndegeocello has released “Bedlam Blues” off of her curated album Red Hot + Ra: Magic City. The song, written and sung by Justin Hicks, is one of nine on the album that pays tribute to Birmingham, AL music icon Sun Ra. “Bedlam Blues” is one of two Justin Hicks originals on the album. Hicks is a key component of Ndegeocello’s dynamic live band.

On the album Hicks and Ndegeocello are joined by saxophonist Marshall Allen, the 99 year old leader of Ra’s band Arkestra; rapper Pink Siifu, saxophonists Immanuel Wilkins and Darius Jones, drummers Deantoni Parks and Kojo Roney, bassist Rashaan Carter, multi-instrumentalist Stuart Bogie, guitarist Christopher Bruce, violinist Eddy Kwon, keyboardist Daniel Mintseris and Jebin Bruni and many others. Red Hot + Ra was produced by Ndegeocello and Hector Castillo.

The album is the second Red Hot Sun Ra tribute album. Last year welcomed Red Hot + Ra: Nuclear War. Red Hot + Ra: Magic City marks the third time Ndegeocello has been part of a Red Hot Org release, the first was Stolen Moments in 1994 and the second being Red Hot + Riot in 2002. Red Hot Org, is a 30+ year old non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that fundraises for health pandemics. Through music and film, Red Hot works to mitigate wide spread diseases.