NINA SIMONE - Forbidden Fruit & Nina’s Choice
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55671
Tracks I to 14
Forbidden Fruit
Nina Simone ( vocals / pno ) Al Shack man (gtr ) Chris White ( bass ) Bobby Hamilton ( drs )
Recorded New York, 1960 - 1961
Tracks 15 & 17
Personnel as tracks 1 to 14
Recorded live at the Newport Jazz Festival, 30th June 1960
Tracks 16 & 18
Nina Simone ( pno / vocal ) Jimmy Bod ( bass ) Albert “Tootie” Heath ( drs )
Recorded live at Town Hall, New York, 12th September 1959
Nina Simone is a performer who is very difficult to classify originally training as a pianist and working in bars, like many female pianists she was asked to sing to broaden her appeal.
As a singer she does not fit into any particular box but her earlier work is much more jazz orientated but has also worked in the R & B field , soul, folk, pop and protest music. As an artiste she can be fiery with promoters bu this criticism can be applied to many temperamental artists.
The tracks from “Forbidden Fruit” were issued a few years ago on CD but for this album tracks from “Nina’s Choice” have been added..
The tracks from “Forbidden Fruit” cover all the aspects of Nina Simone’s extensive repertoire from protest songs to songs from the Great American Songbook.
The opening track “Rags To Old Iron” is an Oscar Brown Jnr. Song and isone of those songs that tell a story and suits Nina Simone like a glove. as does “Work Song” which also by Oscar Brown Jnr. which he wrote the lyrics to a Nat Adderley instrumental.
“Where Can I Go Without You1, “Memphis in June”, “Baubles, Bangles &Beads” and “Ev’rytime We Say Goodbye” are standard songs on which Nina Simone puts her personal interpretation.
Another Oscar Brown Jnr. Song is great fun which comes over a song for children with contributions from a vocal backing group.
“Gimme A Pigfoot” which generally associated with Bessie Smith is given a much more light hearted outing by Nina Simone but it works just as well.
Nina Simone’s piano accompaniment is immaculate throughout as is the rest of the quartet.
The two bonus tracks recorded at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival are great value and much more immediate and have lots of atmosphere.
The two other bonus tracks recorded live at New York Town Hall again are typical of Nina Simone’s in concert performances and Irving Berlin’s little heard “You Can Have Him” is Nina Simone at her best.
If you are a Nina Simone fan you will loves this album but for anybody unfamiliar with her work this as a good introduction as anything else available.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55671
Tracks I to 14
Forbidden Fruit
Nina Simone ( vocals / pno ) Al Shack man (gtr ) Chris White ( bass ) Bobby Hamilton ( drs )
Recorded New York, 1960 - 1961
Tracks 15 & 17
Personnel as tracks 1 to 14
Recorded live at the Newport Jazz Festival, 30th June 1960
Tracks 16 & 18
Nina Simone ( pno / vocal ) Jimmy Bod ( bass ) Albert “Tootie” Heath ( drs )
Recorded live at Town Hall, New York, 12th September 1959
Nina Simone is a performer who is very difficult to classify originally training as a pianist and working in bars, like many female pianists she was asked to sing to broaden her appeal.
As a singer she does not fit into any particular box but her earlier work is much more jazz orientated but has also worked in the R & B field , soul, folk, pop and protest music. As an artiste she can be fiery with promoters bu this criticism can be applied to many temperamental artists.
The tracks from “Forbidden Fruit” were issued a few years ago on CD but for this album tracks from “Nina’s Choice” have been added..
The tracks from “Forbidden Fruit” cover all the aspects of Nina Simone’s extensive repertoire from protest songs to songs from the Great American Songbook.
The opening track “Rags To Old Iron” is an Oscar Brown Jnr. Song and isone of those songs that tell a story and suits Nina Simone like a glove. as does “Work Song” which also by Oscar Brown Jnr. which he wrote the lyrics to a Nat Adderley instrumental.
“Where Can I Go Without You1, “Memphis in June”, “Baubles, Bangles &Beads” and “Ev’rytime We Say Goodbye” are standard songs on which Nina Simone puts her personal interpretation.
Another Oscar Brown Jnr. Song is great fun which comes over a song for children with contributions from a vocal backing group.
“Gimme A Pigfoot” which generally associated with Bessie Smith is given a much more light hearted outing by Nina Simone but it works just as well.
Nina Simone’s piano accompaniment is immaculate throughout as is the rest of the quartet.
The two bonus tracks recorded at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival are great value and much more immediate and have lots of atmosphere.
The two other bonus tracks recorded live at New York Town Hall again are typical of Nina Simone’s in concert performances and Irving Berlin’s little heard “You Can Have Him” is Nina Simone at her best.
If you are a Nina Simone fan you will loves this album but for anybody unfamiliar with her work this as a good introduction as anything else available.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
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