NINA SIMONE - The Colpix Singles
STATESIDE 0190295735869
Nina Simone (v,p); Al Schackman (g); Chris White (b); Bob Hamilton (d) & various orchestras conducted by Bob Mersey, Ralph Burns, Stu Phillips.
Recorded 1959—1963
Nina Simone was already quite well established as a vocalist when she signed for Colpix in 1959 but their continuous programme of singles issues over the years helped to establish her as an international singer. During her time with the label she produced 27 titles, all collected on this double CD and began to emerge as a very competent and talented popular, folk, gospel and jazz singer. All of those categories are covered on this extensive programme with straight singing on standards like Willow Weep For Me through gospel and blues items like Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out and Gin House Blues to straight ahead jazz pieces such as Nat Adderley’s Work Song, which she performs in her own unique way.
The same is true for Fine And Mellow, a blues reading that is all Simone and owes little to Billie Holiday who wrote and performed it first. She sings Chilly Winds with full orchestral and string section backing but sounds much more at home on items like Memphis In June where she is completely at home with just her own piano, guitar, bass and drums.
There is a fine singer and orchestra version of Might As Well Be Spring and she obviously enjoyed herself with gospel inflected material like Nobody Knows You. Because of variety of material and line ups in support, these 27 tracks are always interesting.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
STATESIDE 0190295735869
Nina Simone (v,p); Al Schackman (g); Chris White (b); Bob Hamilton (d) & various orchestras conducted by Bob Mersey, Ralph Burns, Stu Phillips.
Recorded 1959—1963
Nina Simone was already quite well established as a vocalist when she signed for Colpix in 1959 but their continuous programme of singles issues over the years helped to establish her as an international singer. During her time with the label she produced 27 titles, all collected on this double CD and began to emerge as a very competent and talented popular, folk, gospel and jazz singer. All of those categories are covered on this extensive programme with straight singing on standards like Willow Weep For Me through gospel and blues items like Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out and Gin House Blues to straight ahead jazz pieces such as Nat Adderley’s Work Song, which she performs in her own unique way.
The same is true for Fine And Mellow, a blues reading that is all Simone and owes little to Billie Holiday who wrote and performed it first. She sings Chilly Winds with full orchestral and string section backing but sounds much more at home on items like Memphis In June where she is completely at home with just her own piano, guitar, bass and drums.
There is a fine singer and orchestra version of Might As Well Be Spring and she obviously enjoyed herself with gospel inflected material like Nobody Knows You. Because of variety of material and line ups in support, these 27 tracks are always interesting.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
