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Jazz Articles about Nnenna Freelon

About Nnenna Freelon

227

Album Review

Nnenna Freelon: Tales Of Wonder: Celebrating Stevie Wonder

by Jim Santella
September 1, 2002

By interpreting these songs in her own jazz style, Nnenna Freelon has given them new life. Sure, there’s a drummer’s backbeat and lots of surround-sound harmony floating around her. But each piece takes on a slower appearance in Freelon’s hands. She soothes each one into a lush ballad that writhes and circles its path over a sullen winter landscape or an expansive oceanfront sand path. Even “My Cherie Amour” hesitates somewhat between phrases to permit Freelon’s trademark form of expression. ...

161

Album Review

Nnenna Freelon: Soulcall

by Mathew Bahl
November 1, 2000

Nnenna Freelon’s high profile self-titled recording debut on Columbia Records in 1992 prematurely vaulted the young singer onto the national jazz stage. Unfortunately, Ms. Freelon was still in the process of developing her style and a major record label like Columbia proved to be a less than ideal environment for a singer with growing pains. It wasn’t until signing with Concord Jazz in 1996 that Ms. Freelon truly began to find her own voice. Her two previous Grammy-nominated CDs for ...

202

Album Review

Nnenna Freelon: Soulcall

by AAJ Staff
November 1, 2000

Slowly but surely, Nnenna Freelon is forging her own distinctive identity in the minds of listeners through her singular voice and through the uplifting messages inherent in her CD's.Now that Concord is giving her free reign to produce her own CD's, Freelon has chosen to sing about the ultimate uplift: the basis and the optimism of her faith. While her last CD, “Maiden Voyage," concerned itself with the stages of a woman's life with unflinching honesty, “Soulcall" elaborates ...

131

Album Review

Nnenna Freelon: Soulcall

by Jim Santella
November 1, 2000

With an eclectic program and her loose feeling of relaxed charm, Nnenna Freelon expresses like no other. On “Button Up Your Overcoat,” for example, she interprets the lyrics with seductive passion. Not a lightweight pop arrangement, Freelon’s offering tells you “Take good care of yourself” because she seems to care about you. It’s from the heart. She’s telling you how she feels about you while weaving with meaningful gestures and vocal expressions. Chris Potter’s soulful tenor saxophone interlude applies intensity ...

274

Album Review

Nnenna Freelon: Maiden Voyage

by Jack Bowers
April 1, 1998

No matter how impressive the voice, no matter how well–oiled the pipes — and Lord knows Nnenna Freelon is abundantly blessed in both respects — he or she simply cannot rise far above the material. Although Freelon makes a gallant effort on Maiden Voyage, the ship barely gets out of drydock, overladen with forgettable lyrics and lashed to its moorings by mundane melodies. Too harsh? Perhaps. But if I were going to open a set with eight sleep–inducing originals, as ...