Nnenna Freelon
Accolades and awards have abounded - performances at The White House, headlining the Asia Pacific Economic Summit for three hundred Presidents, Premiers and Heads of State, receiving the YWCA of North Carolina’s inaugural “Legend Award” for her outstanding artistry and her dedication to education, and so much more.
Educating young people, both musicians and non-musicians, and students of all ages has propelled her advocacy - Nnenna toured the United States as the National Spokesperson for Partners in Education. Her master classes and workshops, from “Sound Sculpture” to the ground-breaking “Babysong,” instruct adults and children that you too can change the world – even one person at a time - with her anthem “One Child at a Time” found on her “Soulcall” recording. From Partners in Education to the United Way, Freelon has been a tireless advocate and fundraiser for education and arts causes.
Amid a burgeoning activity schedule, 2019 and 2020 also brought profound challenges and loss. In 2019, Nnenna's husband for 40 years, renowned architect Phil Freelon, passed away after his battle with ALS. Within six months, Nnenna's sister, Dr. Debbie Pierce passed away from cancer.
In her efforts to find her voice amidst these challenges Nnenna has begun to emerge with new ways to share her feelings and express her experiences - a new podcast called Great Grief and a new recording entitled Time Traveler are on the horizon for 2021.
From Nnenna's turn in What Women Want (featuring her hit "If I Had You") starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt to her own production (as writer/composer, singer/actress, producer) of the theatrical musical play The Clothesline Muse, to her triumphant role in composer Laura Karpman’s undertaking of Langston Hughes’ Ask Your Mama at The Apollo Theater and at The Hollywood Bowl with opera superstar Jessye Norman and the indie phenom band The Roots, she continues to wow audiences at SRO shows - even as she embarks on new avenues.
Tags
Album Review
- Tales Of Wonder: Celebrating Stevie Wonder by Jim Santella
- Tales of Wonder: Celebrating Stevie Wonder by Dave Nathan
- Blueprint of a Lady: Sketches of Billie Holiday by Ken Franckling
- Blueprint of a Lady by Jim Santella
Live Review
Album Review
- Homefree by Fred Bouchard
Live Review
Album Review
- Christmas by Jack Bowers
Live Review
Radio & Podcasts
Read more articlesJune 01, 2021
All About Jazz Top 10 Tracks: May 2021
October 19, 2018
Inaugural Jazz Philadelphia Summit Announced
April 19, 2011
Feinstein's At Loews Regency Presents The Debut Of Six-Time Grammy...
March 30, 2011
Jazz Legend Makes Annenberg Center Debut
March 18, 2011
Jazz Singer and Six-Time Grammy Nominee Nnenna Freelon Makes Her...
November 10, 2010
The Beast & Nnenna Freelon: "Freedom Suite" - Free Album Download
October 13, 2010
The Beast and Nnenna Freelon Present Freedom Suite, Hosted by 9th...
May 13, 2010
Bending Melodies into Unorthodox Shapes
April 20, 2010
Nnenna Freelon Releases New CD - "Homefree"
April 12, 2010
"Freelon makes each song such a personal statement that they all seem fresh and new..." —Steve Jones, USA Today
"Nnenna Freelon possesses that rarest of qualities... she makes (standards) sound freshly minted, refreshingly new... her phrasing is original, surprising... she mines the (melodies) for new and hidden meaning... and imaginative spirit that reaches out and bubbles over..." —Robert L. Daniels, Variety
"...there is no doubt that Freelon has now positioned herself in the very top echelon..." —Don Heckman,Los Angeles Times
Nina Simone
piano and vocalsBilly Eckstine
voice / vocalsKaylene Peoples
voice / vocalsPhotos
Album Discography
Time Traveler
From: Time TravelerBy Nnenna Freelon
Baby, It's Cold Outside
From: ChristmasBy Nnenna Freelon