We start off with Nina Simone, concerts given upon leaving America, follow thru with Moroccan vocalist/songwriter Malika Zarra, and end up with a double dozen of interpretations of Stayhorn’s class "Lush Life" featuring Billy Strayhorn, Billy Eckstine, Kenny Clarke - Francy Boland Sextet, Danilo Perez, Leila Maria,Tito Puente, Nat King Cole, Sexto Sentido, Dianne Reeves & Russell Malone, Clifford Jordan, Bettye LaVette, Norman Connors with Spencer Harris, Joe Henderson, Jacintha, John Coltrane, Andy Bey, Calvin Keys, Franck Amsallem featuring Elisabeth Kontomanou, Dave Burrell, Jose James & Jef Neve, Gene Ammons, Archie Shepp & Siefgried Kessler, Sarah Vaughan, and of course John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman.
Simply put Nina Simone is black music’s most significant vocalist during the last half of the 20th century. Her work embodied the aspirations and experiences of legions of both fellow artists and audience members. During the critical Civil Rights/Black Power era, Nina defined what it meant to be a black artist and gave defiant voice to the militant expression of Black resistance to oppression and exploitation. Through songs such as “Mississippi Goddamn,” “Four Women,” and “Young, Gifted and Black” Nina Simone sang from inside the skins of frontline fighters for social justice.
Professionally, she started as a supper club singer. Her initial hit was a smoldering interpretation of “I Love You Porgy.” But as the times changed, she transformed. Aspects of her life that previously had been kept private were unfurled and flown like a battle flag. Of course, she paid a heavy price, a heavy, heavy price. The repercussions nearly drove her mad.
In her latter years she would sometimes rue the choices she had made. (See this short video interview) Nevertheless, the body of work she produced is unmatched by any of her contemporaries or, for that matter, by any who have followed her. Other singers may have made more money but none made more music.
—kalamu ya salaam