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Meshell Ndegeocello, the American singer-songwriter, rapper, bassist and vocalist and her musicians Chris Bruce (guitar), Jebin Bruni (keys), and Deantoni Parks (drums) recorded a tribute to Nina Simone and play some of the tracks made famous by the icon of black music. Meshell also invited a few guests to take part of this dedication to Nina Simone, such as Sinead O'Conner, Lizz Wright, Valerie June, Toshi Reagon and Cody ChesnuTT.

Pour une ame souveraine' (For a sovereign soul)

Ndegeocello returns Oct. 9 with Pour Une Ame Souveraine ("For a Sovereign Soul"). It's one of her many creative hairpin turns: a tribute to one of her clearest spiritual forebears, Nina Simone, who knew from creative hairpin turns herself. Simone's catalog spanned some of the 20th century's greatest standards — "Feeling Good," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair" — but she was also fiercely, fearlessly uncompromising politically. Her songs became civil-rights anthems, to the point where it's impossible to separate Simone's art from her activism. Ndegeocello makes a natural accomplice to that legacy, and she tackles these songs with all due respect and understanding.

Ndegeocello herself takes on a supporting role in this cover of the classic "Be My Husband" — written by Simone's ex-husband and former manager, Andrew Stroud, who died Saturday at 86 — turning lead-vocal duties over to young up-and-comer Valerie June. Playing bass alongside guitarist Chris Bruce, keyboardist Jebin Bruni and drummer Deantoni Parks, Ndegeocello helps flesh out the original's rhythmically inventive stomp, then swoops in to lend sweet vocal harmonies to a pair of unexpectedly swoony choruses. The resulting concoction stays true to Nina Simone's spirit, while still taking liberties — a move worthy of a subject who never sat still for anyone.

i like this and will probably get it but jezz I wished she'd lighten up and rev it up a bit.

Ya know, for all the angst she sings about in love or politics or whatever every day life, she could sing about some good stuff.

I'm actually listening to Devil's Halo right now and it's so droopy. I'm not even going to bother with Weather. Just the title alone

I can't wait to be completely devastated by this.

Nina Simone wasn’t interested in genre so such as essence. She often took familiar jazz, pop, blues, and folk songs and turned them inside out, ending up with an interpretation distinctly her own. Meshell Ndegeocello, a bassist, singer, and songwriter who also knows her way in and out of various styles, takes a similar approach on her enlightened new homage to Simone. It’s astonishing to hear Ndegeocello deconstruct these 14 songs that cut across Simone’s deep discography. Whereas Simone would typically boil, Ndegeocello mostly prefers to simmer. “Turn Me On” and “Feeling Good,” seductive and slow as molasses, sound like something Sade would record. “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” shimmers as a soulful lover’s lament. The folk staple “House of the Rising Sun” gets a funk revamp. Only “Suzanne” resembles Simone’s version, keeping intact her driving arrangement. A steely take on “Four Women” renders the song virtually unrecognizable. Simone would never have recorded it that way, and that’s the point of this illuminating album. ~ JAMES REED

This will be her 1st project that I don't buy.

http://www.ticketweb.com/...degeocello

Highline Ballroom

Tuesday, Oct 16, 2012 9:00 PM EDT (7:00 PM Doors)
Highline Ballroom, New York, NY

Graycap23 said:

This will be her 1st project that I don't buy.

I know you don't dig jazz. Is that why?

Lammastide said:

Graycap23 said:

This will be her 1st project that I don't buy.

I know you don't dig jazz. Is that why?

I listened 2 the new project and not a single track hit me. I've like 90% of her material prior 2 this new cd.

Graycap23 said:

Lammastide said:

I know you don't dig jazz. Is that why?

I listened 2 the new project and not a single track hit me. I've like 90% of her material prior 2 this new cd.

Ahh. Understood.

It's interesting -- Meshell's a favourite of mine, but sometimes her stuff has to gradually work on me. This is the first of her joints since Dance of the Infidels, though, that has immediately hit me in its near entirety. I'm really digging the soulfulness.

I have to agree with Milty, though: I'm wishing Meshell would find some good uppers. Her gloom and doom schtick is getting more and more tired with each release. Thank goodness at least here we hear it articulated from the perspective of another songwriter.

[Edited 10/13/12 17:38pm]

Lammastide said:

Graycap23 said:

I listened 2 the new project and not a single track hit me. I've like 90% of her material prior 2 this new cd.

Ahh. Understood.

It's interesting -- Meshell's a favourite of mine, but sometimes her stuff has to gradually work on me. This is the first of her joints since Dance of the Infidels, though, that has immediately hit me in its near entirety. I'm really digging the soulfulness.

I have to agree with Milty, though: I'm wishing Meshell would find some good uppers. Her gloom and doom schtick is getting more and more tired with each release. Thank goodness at least here we hear it articulated from the perspective of another songwriter.

It would be cool 4 her to do a album of Prince covers

Her next album definately should be more upbeat and fast

But I'm enjoying this one