NNENNA FREELON - Heritage (1993) FLAC (tracks), lossless

A major improvement on her debut (which found Nnenna Freelon overly influenced by Sarah Vaughan), the singer's second effort has many highpoints including outstanding versions of "'Tis Autumn," Duke Ellington's "Heritage" (a challenging and very personal song), "Prelude to a Kiss" and "Comes Love." Backed by a superior rhythm seciton and occasional horns, Freelon (even if this set bogs down a bit near the end due to too many ballads) is quite expressive, relaxed and consistently creative. This is a very impressive effort from one of the most promising jazz vocalists of the 1990s. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Girl Blue 5:53
Written-By – S. Wonder, S. Wright
2    Tis Autumn 4:14
Written-By – H. Nemo
3    Heritage 4:58
Written-By – D. Ellington
4    Comes Love 4:58
Written-By – C. Tobias, L. Brown, S. Stept
5    Prelude To A Kiss 5:03
Written-By – D. Ellington, I. Gordon, I. Mills
6    It's You I Like 3:59
Written-By – F. M. Rogers
7    Infant Eyes 8:01
Arranged By – Kenny Barron
Written-By – D. Carn, W. Shorter
8    Young & Foolish 4:58
Written-By – A. Hague, A. Horwitt
9    Never Let Me Go 4:53
Written-By – J. Livingston, R. Evans
10    All Or Nothing At All 6:14
Written-By – A. Altman, J. Lawrence
11    So Wrong 6:05
Written By – J. Allen / B. Anschell
12    Something To Live For 4:23
Written-By – B. Strayhorn, D. Ellington
13    Bewitched 6:25
Written-By – R. Rodgers - L. Hart
Credits :
Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – Lewis Nash
Piano – Kenny Barron
Saxophone – Dave Tofani
Trombone – Jim Pugh
Nnenna Freelon - Vocals

NNENNA FREELON - Soulcall (2000) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Nnenna Freelon's highly anticipated new CD Soulcall releases her energy, talent, and soulful vocals into a great program of 13 songs inspired by jazz traditions, gospel influences, and pop favorites. Accompanied by a great band, including Chris Potter on alto flute and tenor saxophone, Ray Drummond on bass, and special guests Kirk Whalum on tenor saxophone, Joe Beck on guitar, and Sounds of Blackness and Take 6 on vocals, the dynamic, award-winning, vocalist emanates her eclectic musical tastes with cozy intimacy, soulful nuance, and curvaceous phrasings. Freelon resurrects two renditions of "Amazing Grace" for modern artists; one a quiet, duet with pianist Takana Miyamoto and the other, a gospel jazz version with pianist James Williams, Ray Drummond, drummer Ed Thigpen, and tambourines by Gregg Field. The soulcall successfully comes through on the title track, a composition penned by Freelon, which reflects her true essence. Her voice is beautiful and possesses the amazing ability to gracefully change in musical expression and shading. "Let It Be Me" and "Just in Time" reveal her ability to caress a great ballad and scat sing with the best of them. The Grammy-nominated singer only improves with age and shows tremendous growth from her debut album, Shaking Free, and the much celebrated Maiden Voyage. by Paula Edelstein  
Tracklist :
1    Better Than Anything 4:56
Bass – Wayne Batchelor
Drums – Woody Williams
Percussion – Beverly Botsford
Piano, Arranged By – Takana Miyamoto
Tenor Saxophone – James Sandon
Written-By – Bill Loughborough, David Wheat
2    Let It Be Me 4:48
Bass – Wayne Batchelor
Drums – Woody Williams
Featuring, Tenor Saxophone, Arranged By, Programmed By – Kirk Whalum
Percussion – Beverly Botsford
Piano – Takana Miyamoto
Written-By – Gilbert Bécaud, Manny Kurtz, Pierre Leroyer
3    Straighten Up And Fly Right 3:25
Arranged By – Cedric Dent, Mark Kibble
Featuring, Backing Vocals – Take 6
Written-By – Irving Mills, Nat King Cole
4    Amazing Grace (Duo Version) 2:32
Arranged By – Nnenna Freelon, Takana Miyamoto
Piano – Takana Miyamoto
Written-By – John Newton, Traditional
5    Button Up Your Overcoat 5:03
Arranged By – Nnenna Freelon
Bass – Wayne Batchelor
Drums – Woody Williams
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Takana Miyamoto
Percussion – Beverly Botsford
Tenor Saxophone – Chris Potter
Trumpet – Matt Shulman
Written-By – B.G. De Sylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson
6    One Child At A Time 3:59
Arranged By [Choral] – Morgan Ames
Bass – Wayne Batchelor
Directed By [Musical] – Gary Hines
Drums – Woody Williams
Featuring, Backing Vocals – Sounds Of Blackness
Featuring, Tenor Saxophone – Kirk Whalum
Piano – Takana Miyamoto
Written-By – Nnenna Freelon
7    I Say A Little Prayer 4:18
Bass, Arranged By – Wayne Batchelor
Drums, Arranged By – Woody Williams
Percussion, Arranged By – Beverly Botsford
Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Arranged By – Takana Miyamoto
Written-By – Burt Bacharach / Hal David
8    If It's Magic 4:08
Arranged By – Joe Beck, Nnenna Freelon
Guitar – Joe Beck
Written-By – Stevie Wonder
9    Soulcall 4:01
Arranged By – Nnenna Freelon, Takana Miyamoto
Bass – Wayne Batchelor
Drums – Woody Williams
Flute [Alto] – Chris Potter
Guitar – Joe Beck
Percussion – Beverly Botsford
Piano – Takana Miyamoto
Written-By – Nnenna Freelon
10    Just In Time 4:26
Arranged By – Nnenna Freelon
Bass – Ray Drummond
Drums – Ed Thigpen
Piano – James Williams
Written-By – Betty Comden / Adolph Green, Jule Styne
11    Paper Moon 3:41
Arranged By – Nnenna Freelon, Takana Miyamoto
Bass – Wayne Batchelor
Drums – Woody Williams
Piano – Takana Miyamoto
Tenor Saxophone – Chris Potter, James Sandon
Trumpet – Matt Shulman
Written-By – Billy Rose, E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
12    You're Nearer / Nearer My God To Thee 4:13
Arranged By – Nnenna Freelon
Bass – Ray Drummond
Piano – James Williams
Written-By – Mason, Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart, Adams
13    Amazing Grace (Trio Version) 4:03
Arranged By – Nnenna Freelon
Bass – Ray Drummond
Drums – Ed Thigpen
Piano – James Williams
Tambourine – Gregg Field
Written-By – John Newton, Traditional

NNENNA FREELON - Tales of Wonder : Celebrating Stevie Wonder (2002) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Following her double Grammy-nominated CD entitled Soulcall, vocalist Nnenna Freelon has delivered a stunning tribute to master musician Stevie Wonder with Tales of Wonder: Celebrating Stevie Wonder. In addition to being the first vocal CD ever done as a tribute to the legendary Wonder, the recording boasts several guest musicians accompanying her core ensemble. Freelon interprets such well-known Wonder classics as "Overjoyed," "My Cherie Amour," and "Another Star" in a voice that is sensual and personable, yet appealing and expressive. This collection of well-chosen pop standards allows Freelon more freedom to express the jazzier side of her talent than the blues and R&B flavors she sang on Soulcall due to the compositional integrity of Stevie Wonder's songs. These particular songs allow for the improvisational aspects of jazz while balancing their pop essence. By adding the strong work of bassist Gerald Veasley and guitarist Chuck Loeb alongside her working ensemble, her special imprint of languorous tempo that shows off her great time and phrasing is even more appealing. Tales of Wonder: Celebrating Stevie Wonder is sure to garner more support for Nnenna Freelon as a vocalist who can handle more than one side of the musical spectrum. by Paula Edelstein  
Tracklist :
1     Overjoyed 4:48
Stevie Wonder
2     Creepin' 5:04
Stevie Wonder
Guitar [Solo] – Chuck Loeb
3     Lately 5:46
Stevie Wonder
Tenor Saxophone [Solo] – Gerry Niewood
4     Superstition 5:31
Stevie Wonder
Bass [Solo] – Gerald Veasley
Voice [Solo] – Nnenna Freelon
5     Tears of a Clown 5:32
Henry Cosby / Smokey Robinson / Stevie Wonder
Violin [Solo] – Jason Crosby
6     Black Orchid 5:00
Stevie Wonder
7     My Cherie Amour 3:51
Henry Cosby / Sylvia Moy / Stevie Wonder
Guitar [Solo] – Chuck Loeb
8     Bird of Beauty 4:39
Stevie Wonder
Tenor Saxophone [Solo] – Gerry Niewood
Vocals [Solo] – Nnenna Freelon
9     All in Love Is Fair 6:53
Stevie Wonder
Soprano Saxophone [Solo] – Gerry Niewood
10     Send One Your Love 5:05
Stevie Wonder
Guitar [Solo] – Chuck Loeb
Harmonica [Solo] – Enrico Granafei
11     Another Star 3:47
Stevie Wonder
Flute [Solo] – Gerry Niewood
12     Until You Come Back to Me 5:24
Morris Broadnax / Stevie Wonder
Bass [Solo] – Gerald Veasley
Tenor Saxophone [Solo] – Gerry Niewood
Credits :    
Arranged By – Benny Diggs (pistas: 6, 7, 9, 10, 11), Brandon McCune (pistas: 2, 6-11), Chuck Loeb (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11), Gerald Veasley (pistas: 6, 7, 9-12), John Snyder (pistas: 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11), Joseph Joubert (pistas: 1, 5), Nnenna Freelon (pistas: 1, 2, 4-12), Woody Williams (pistas: 6, 7, 9, 10, 11)
Arranged By [Rhythm Tracks] – Benny Diggs (pistas: 1-5, 8, 12), Brandon McCune (pistas: 1-5, 8, 12), Chuck Loeb (pistas: 1-5, 8, 12), Gerald Veasley (pistas: 1-5, 8, 12), John Snyder (pistas: 1-5, 8, 12), Nnenna Freelon (pistas: 1-5, 8, 12), Woody Williams (pistas: 1-5, 8, 12)
Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass – Gerald Veasley
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Chuck Loeb
Engineer – Dave Samuels, Jay Newland
Flute, Flute [Alto], Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Gerry Niewood
Harmonica – Enrico Granafei
Percussion – Bashiri Johnson
Piano, Organ [Hammond B-3], Organ, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Brandon McCune
Trumpet – Ronnie Buttacavoli
Vibraphone, Marimba – Dave Samuels
Violin – Andy Stein, Jason Crosby

NNENNA FREELON - Live (2003) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Nnenna Freelon refuses to be pigeonholed into any one style of jazz, as she's always willing to perform songs from many different fields, often while taking them in unfamiliar directions. She's also blessed with a great voice and an innate ability to charm her audience, along with a superb band. These performances from a pair of concerts at the Kennedy Center have a lot to like within them. The two-faceted interpretation of the standard "All or Nothing at All" alternates between an exotic Latin setting and driving bop. Pianist Takana Miyamoto's bossa nova scoring of "Meaning of the Blues" and the humorous take of "If I Only Had a Brain" also work very well. But there are misfires, too. Johnny Green's timeless melody to "Body and Soul" is discarded in favor of a plodding, monotonous reggae arrangement. There's little to differentiate the poppish performance of "My Cherie Amour" from a typical pop performance. Far better is her slowed-down approach to another Stevie Wonder song, "Tears of a Clown," where Smokey Robinson's great lyrics can be better appreciated than even on his own hit rendition with the Temptations. For those who have yet to experience the phenomenal Nnenna Freelon in concert, this is the next best alternative. by Ken Dryden   
Tracklist :
1     Nothing Will Be as It Was 4:54
Ronaldo Bastos / Milton Nascimento / Rene Vincent
2     All or Nothing at All 6:06
Arthur Altman / Jack Lawrence
3     If I Only Had a Brain (Intro) 0:25
4     If I Only Had a Brain 5:18
Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
5     Meaning of the Blues 6:06
Bobby Troup / Leah Worth
6     Body and Soul 4:52
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
7     My Cherie Amour (Intro) 0:46
8     My Cherie Amour 5:14
Henry Cosby / Sylvia Moy / Stevie Wonder
9     The Tears of a Clown 7:29
Henry Cosby / Smokey Robinson / Stevie Wonder
10     Button up Your Overcoat 5:09
Lew Brown / Buddy DeSylva / Ray Henderson
11     If I Had You 4:30
Jimmy Campbell / Reginald Connelly / Ted Shapiro
12     Circle Song 5:05
Nnenna Freelon
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Wayne Batchelor (pistas: 1-5, 9-12)
Backing Vocals – Brandon McCune (pistas: 12)
Drums – Woody Williams
Electric Bass – Wayne Batchelor (pistas: 6-8)
Guitar – Scott Sawyer
Organ [Hammond B3], Piano, Trumpet – Brandon McCune
Percussion – Beverly Botsford
Piano, Organ [Hammong B3], Keyboards [Fender Rhodes], Melodica – Takana Miyamoto
Vocals – Nnenna Freelon

NNENNA FREELON - Blueprint of a Lady : Sketches of Billie Holiday (2005) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Nnenna Freelon had no intention of making her tribute to Billie Holiday a straight-ahead remake of songs associated with Lady Day. But the danger of straying too far from these well-known melodies is that these contemporary arrangements end up sounding both overblown yet bland. Unlike her Stevie Wonder tribute (Tales of Wonder), where Freelon's interpretations were too similar to Wonder's, she essentially discards the music to many of these songs, while substituting repetitious, often funky vamps that lessen the impact of these timeless songs. "God Bless the Child" begins with narration and is plagued by its dull funk setting. The overly dramatic rendition of "Strange Fruit" segues into a bizarre brisk treatment of "Willow Weep for Me" that mixes post-bop and Afro-Cuban influences. The playful spirit of "Them There Eyes" is gone, replaced by a monotonous contemporary scoring. Better are the slowly savored "You've Changed" and "Don't Explain." Freelon's own compositions stand on their own, which include "Only You Will Know" (a duet with guitarist Andre Bush) and the brief "Interlude-Little Brown Bird." Nnenna Freelon has long since proved herself as one of the best jazz vocalists of her generation, but this salute to Billie Holiday will likely be of limited appeal to many dedicated fans of Lady Day. by Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1     I Didn't Know What Time It Was 4:18
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
2     What a Little Moonlight Can Do 5:13
Harry Woods
3     Don't Explain 4:03
Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr.
4     God Bless the Child 5:21
Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr.
5     Strange Fruit 2:20
6     Willow Weep For Me 2:52
Ann Ronell
7     Balm in Gilead 4:49
8     Them There Eves 5:09
Maceo Pinkard / Doris Tauber / William Tracey
9     Only You Will Know 3:41
Nnenna Freelon / Brandon McCune
10     You've Changed 5:24
Bill Carey / Carl Fischer
11     Now or Never 2:55
Billie Holiday
12     Lover Man 4:14
Ram Ramirez / James Sherman
13     Left Alone 5:02
Billie Holiday / Mal Waldron
14     Little Brown Bird (Interlude) 1:32
Nnenna Freelon / Brandon McCune
15     All of Me 5:53
Gerald Marks / Seymour Simons
Credits :
Wayne Batchelor - Acoustic Bass Guitar, Arranger, Bass (Acoustic), Main Personnel
Kinah Boto - Drums, Main Personnel
Beverly Botsford - Arranger, Main Personnel, Percussion
André Bush - Guitar
John Clayton -     Horn Arrangements
Mary Fettig - Flute (Alto), Rhythm Arrangements, Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone)
Nnenna Freelon - Arranger, Audio Production, Composer, Main Personnel, Producer, Vocals
Jessica Ivry - Cello
Julian Lage - Guitar
Doug Lawrence - Sax (Tenor)
Brandon McCune - Arranger, Composer, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3, Main Personnel, Organ (Hammond), Piano, Trumpet
Christian Scott - Trumpet

TERENCE BLANCHARD / NNENNA FREELON - Monterey Jazz Festival : 50th Anniversary All-Stars (2008) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Once limited to those lucky enough to be able to travel to its gorgeous home grounds, the Monterey Jazz Festival went national in its 50th anniversary year, forming a cross-generational touring ensemble and sending the group on a strenuous 54-date tour around the country in early 2008. The tour was preceded by this recording, taped at the September 2007 festival as a calling card. The musicians were chosen with chronological savvy -- a genuine living giant, James Moody (then 82), as an ambassador from jazz's storied past; trumpeter Terence Blanchard, singer Nnenna Freelon, and pianist Benny Green representing the Young Lions grown to maturity; and Blanchard's rhythm section, bassist Derrick Hodge and drummer Kendrick Scott personifying "flaming" jazz youth in the 21st century. Moody doesn't concede one note to age; he is in thrilling, inventive, unpredictable form on tenor sax, clearly invigorated by the driving, tradition-minded rhythm section and his role as éminence grise. Moody also chips in a bit of flute, and kids around with Freelon, scatting and singing, in "Just Squeeze Me." The program selections often are heavy with references to Monterey's past -- Dizzy Gillespie's "Be-Bop," Milt Jackson's "Monterey Mist," an excerpt from Gerald Wilson's "Theme for Monterey" suite with retrofitted new lyrics by Freelon ("Romance [Winter Love]"). Blanchard is strikingly eloquent in "Benny's Tune," and Freelon's lustrous voice also finds a home in "Misty" and "Time After Time." If there is one weakness in this otherwise admirable 55-minute set, it is that these musicians' tastes and interests aren't expressed much beyond the default jazz mainstream; on tour, Blanchard stretched out into social protest and Green experimented with radically quiet dynamic levels. Nevertheless, it is heartening that everyone in this band is on the same wavelength and having an unfeigned fine time with each other. by Richard S. Ginell  
Tracklist :
1     Be-Bop 8:59
Dizzy Gillespie
2     Spoken Introduction to Romance 0:45
3     Romance (Winter Love) 5:18
Nnenna Freelon / Gerald Wilson
Vocals – James Moody
4     Spoken Introduction to Just Squeeze Me 0:43
5     Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me) 5:37
Duke Ellington
6     Monterey Mist 9:35
Milt Jackson
7     Misty 6:39
Erroll Garner
8     Benny's Tunen 8:12
Lionel Loueke
9     Band Introductions 1:05
10     Time After Time 8:47
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
Credits :
A&R – Benny Green, Nnenna Freelon, Terence Blanchard, Tim Jackson
Bass – Derrick Hodge
Drums – Kendrick Scott
Piano – Benny Green
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – James Moody
Trumpet – Terence Blanchard
Vocals – Nnenna Freelon

NNENNA FREELON - Better Than Anything : The Quintessential Nnenna Freelon (2008) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Nnenna Freelon has recorded for the Concord label since 1996. Better Than Anything has some of the high points from her first nine years with the company, drawing its dozen selections from six previously released CDs. Freelon had developed into an individual voice and a subtle improviser before she hooked up with Concord but she has grown in depth ever since, being increasingly willing to take chances and stretch herself into other idioms while staying true to her jazz vision. On Better Than Anything, seven of the dozen selections are jazz standards, with "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Balm in Gilead" being among the exceptions. But even such tunes as "Them There Eyes" (taken from a project that had modernized versions of Billie Holiday-associated songs) and "Body and Soul" sound different than expected. The most joyful performance is "Straighten Up and Fly Right," which teams Freelon with Take 6. They should record a full-length project someday. Better Than Anything is an excellent all-round sampler, although Nnenna Freelon's best fans will prefer to obtain her original CDs individually. by Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1     Better Than Anything 4:54
Bill Loughborough
2     I Won't Dance 4:33
Dorothy Fields / Otto Harbach / Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern / Jimmy McHugh
3     Straighten Up and Fly Right 3:23
Nat King Cole / Irving Mills
feat: Take 6          
4    Nature Boy 4:14
Eden Ahbez
5     Them There Eyes 5:11
Maceo Pinkard / Doris Tauber / William Tracey
6     I Say a Little Prayer 4:16
Burt Bacharach / Hal David
7     Body and Soul [Live] 4:52
Edward Heyman
8     Button Up Your Overcoat 4:57
Lew Brown
9     The Tears of a Clown 7:26
Henry Cosby / Smokey Robinson / Stevie Wonder
10     Ooh Child 5:11
Stan Vincent
11     One Child at a Time 3:58
Nnenna Freelon
12     Balm in Gilead 4:49
Public Domain

NNENNA FREELON - Homefree (2010) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1     The Lamp Is Low 4:57
Peter DeRose / Mitchell Parish / Maurice Ravel / Bert Shefter
2     I Feel Pretty 5:39
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim
3     The Very Thought of You 6:02
Ray Noble
4     Theme from Valley of the Dolls 5:01
André Previn / Dory Previn
5     Smile 4:14
Charlie Chaplin / Geoffrey Parsons
6     You and the Night and the Music 4:39
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
7     Cell Phone Blues 4:40
Nnenna Freelon
8     Get Out of Town 4:22
Cole Porter
9     Skylark 5:18
Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer
10     Lift Every Voice and Sing 4:38
James Weldon Johnson / John Rosamond Johnson
11     America the Beautiful 2:52
Katharine Lee Bates / Samuel A. Ward
Credits :
Kinah Ayah - Arranger, Drums, Guitar
Wayne Batchelor - Bass (Acoustic), Bass (Electric)
Beverly Botsford - Percussion
John Brown - Bass (Acoustic)
Ray Codrington - Flugelhorn
Nnenna Freelon - Arranger, Composer, Liner Notes,  Producer, Vocals
Pierce Freelon - Arranger, Rap
Timothy Holley - Cello
Brandon McCune - Arranger, Fender Rhodes, Piano
Karen Millen, Dominique Nicole  - Wardrobe
Scott Sawyer - Guitar
Ira Wiggins - Sax (Tenor)

NNENNA FREELON - Maiden Voyage (1998) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Nnenna Freelon's fifth CD should establish her as one of the top jazz singers of the 1990s. Rather than stick to typical jazz standards, she explore women's songs (or at least lyrics) from many fields of music. Her compelling interpretation of the title track, with its infrequently heard lyric by Mrs. Herbie Hancock, is followed by a hypnotic original lyric written by Freelon for Marian McPartland's "Threnody," titled "Sepia Wing" in its vocal incarnation. One of the more unusual songs selected is folk singer Buffy Saint-Marie's "Until It's Time for You to Go"; Freelon drastically rearranged this tune by changing the melody line and adding an uptempo vamp, and Bob Mintzer's soprano sax accents are also a nice touch. The moody lament written by the late Laura Nyro, "Buy and Sell," is also an intriguing chart by the singer. Of course, she's no slouch with standard Broadway fare either, as her lively duet with guitarist Joe Beck proves. by Ken Dryden

Tracklist:

1 Come Into My Life 5:22

Written-By – Nona Hendryx

2 Four Women 4:54

Written-By – Nina Simone

3 Maiden Voyage 8:26

Lyrics By – Jean Hancock

Music By – Herbie Hancock

Piano – Herbie Hancock

4 Buy And Sell 5:29

Written-By – Laura Nyro

5 Future News Blues 4:43

Written-By – Nnenna Freelon

6 Until It's Time For You To Go 6:00

Written-By – Buffy Sainte-Marie

7 Women Be Wise 8:08

Written-By – Sippie Wallace

8 Sepia Wing 5:46

Lyrics By – Nnenna Freelon

Music By – Marian McPartland

9 Pick Yourself Up 4:09

Lyrics By – Dorothy Fields

Music By – Jerome Kern

10 I Won't Dance 4:33

Lyrics By – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh, Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach

Music By – Jerome Kern

11 Inside A Silent Tear 4:30

Lyrics By – Linda Albert

Music By – Blossom Dearie

12 Sing Me Down 4:18

Written-By – Nnenna Freelon

Credits:

Bass Clarinet – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 2, 4, 7)

Cello – Jesse Levy (tracks: 2, 4)

Double Bass – Avishai Cohen (tracks: 1-6, 12), Peter Washington (tracks: 8, 10, 11)

Drums – Clarence Penn (tracks: 8, 10, 11), Danny Gottlieb (tracks: 1-6, 12)

Flute – Dave Valentin (tracks: 8, 10)

Guitar – Joe Beck (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12)

Percussion – Sammy Figueroa (tracks: 1-6, 8, 10, 11, 12)

Piano – Michael Abene (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12)

Soprano Saxophone – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 1, 6)

Tenor Saxophone – Dick Oatts (tracks: 10, 11)

Trombone – Ed Neumeister (tracks: 10)

Vocals – Nnenna Freelon

NNENNA FREELON - Shaking Free (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Nnenna Freelon's highly anticipated new CD Soulcall releases her energy, talent, and soulful vocals into a great program of 13 songs inspired by jazz traditions, gospel influences, and pop favorites. Accompanied by a great band, including Chris Potter on alto flute and tenor saxophone, Ray Drummond on bass, and special guests Kirk Whalum on tenor saxophone, Joe Beck on guitar, and Sounds of Blackness and Take 6 on vocals, the dynamic, award-winning, vocalist emanates her eclectic musical tastes with cozy intimacy, soulful nuance, and curvaceous phrasings. Freelon resurrects two renditions of "Amazing Grace" for modern artists; one a quiet, duet with pianist Takana Miyamoto and the other, a gospel jazz version with pianist James Williams, Ray Drummond, drummer Ed Thigpen, and tambourines by Gregg Field. The soulcall successfully comes through on the title track, a composition penned by Freelon, which reflects her true essence. Her voice is beautiful and possesses the amazing ability to gracefully change in musical expression and shading. "Let It Be Me" and "Just in Time" reveal her ability to caress a great ballad and scat sing with the best of them. The Grammy-nominated singer only improves with age and shows tremendous growth from her debut album, Shaking Free, and the much celebrated Maiden Voyage. by Paula Edelstein  
Tracklist:
1 Out of This World 6:01
Harold Arlen / Jimmy McHugh / Johnny Mercer
2 Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair 6:03
Traditional
3 I Live to Love You 4:18
Oscar Castro-Neves / Luverci Fiorini / Ray Gilbert
4 Shaking Free 5:17
Bill Anschell / John Brown / Nnenna Freelon / Woody Williams
5 Stories We Hold 4:54
Bill Anschell / Nnenna Freelon
6 Birk's Works 4:30
Dizzy Gillespie
7 My Shining Hour 4:37
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
8 Visions 4:04
Stevie Wonder
9 I Thought About You 5:04
James Van Heusen / Johnny Mercer
10 What Am I Here For? 6:36
Duke Ellington / Frankie Laine
11 Nature Boy 4:15
Eden Ahbez
12 Blue Daughter 2:22
Nnenna Freelon
Credits:
Congas – Alex Acuña (tracks: 3, 4, 8)
Double Bass – John Brown
Drums – Woody Williams
Guitar – Scott Sawyer (tracks: 3 to 5, 8, 12)
Piano – Bill Anschell
Soprano Saxophone – Rickey Woodard (tracks: 2, 11)
Tenor Saxophone – Rickey Woodard (tracks: 9)
Vocals – Nnenna Freelon