NINA SIMONE - Sings Ellington
JAZZ IMAGES 38009
Nina Simone (v & p), Orchestra conducted by Ralph Burns. !961 & Bob Mersey’s Orchestra
Recorded 1959.
This CD is made up of two albums where she sings music written by Duke Ellington exclusively. Some are fairly obscure but this probably helped her to put her own, personal interpretation on the music. When she tackles the well- known composition Solitude, it still comes out as pure Simone, she was that kind of singer.
Unlike the vast majority of Simone’s albums she is here accompanied throughout by two large orchestras. When she tackles the not too well known 'The Gal From Joe’s' Ms Simone chooses to go with a straight crooning style and has backing singers echoing some of her words in the background. It doesn’t work too well I feel. Satin Doll is a lot better with a jazz style orchestral backing and Nina creating a personal solo at the keyboard.
Nobody should mess with the straight ahead message of 'It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing' although Ms Simone comes close with a pop song type arrangement and voices and clapping in the background. Blue Prelude is treated as a straight ballad with the orchestra playing blues flecked accompaniment. Overall I don’t really think Ms Simone and Ellington music work too well together. I would suggest if you are a Simone enthusiast you’ll like this disc but if you are an Ellington buff you possibly won’t.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
JAZZ IMAGES 38009
Nina Simone (v & p), Orchestra conducted by Ralph Burns. !961 & Bob Mersey’s Orchestra
Recorded 1959.
This CD is made up of two albums where she sings music written by Duke Ellington exclusively. Some are fairly obscure but this probably helped her to put her own, personal interpretation on the music. When she tackles the well- known composition Solitude, it still comes out as pure Simone, she was that kind of singer.
Unlike the vast majority of Simone’s albums she is here accompanied throughout by two large orchestras. When she tackles the not too well known 'The Gal From Joe’s' Ms Simone chooses to go with a straight crooning style and has backing singers echoing some of her words in the background. It doesn’t work too well I feel. Satin Doll is a lot better with a jazz style orchestral backing and Nina creating a personal solo at the keyboard.
Nobody should mess with the straight ahead message of 'It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing' although Ms Simone comes close with a pop song type arrangement and voices and clapping in the background. Blue Prelude is treated as a straight ballad with the orchestra playing blues flecked accompaniment. Overall I don’t really think Ms Simone and Ellington music work too well together. I would suggest if you are a Simone enthusiast you’ll like this disc but if you are an Ellington buff you possibly won’t.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
