Pour une ame souveraine: A dedication to Nina Simone Meshell Ndegeocello

• 1 Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood 04:08
• 2 Suzanne 04:27
• 3 Real Real 03:08
• 4 The House Of The Rising Sun 03:36
• 5 Turn Me On 03:08
• 6 The Roar of the Greasepaint-The Smell of the Crowd: Feeling Good 04:10
• 7 Don't Take All Night 03:28
• 8 Nobody's Fault but Mine 02:37
• 9 Be My Husband 03:31
• 10 Black Is the Color of My True Loves Hair 03:53
• 11 See Lion Woman 05:51
• 12 Either Way I Lose 03:29
• 13 To Be Young, Gifted and Black 03:16
• 14 Four Women 05:02
• Total Runtime 53:44

Info for Pour une ame souveraine: A dedication to Nina Simone

Ein Tribut an die große Nina Simone - und wer könnte das besser als Meshell Ndegeocello? Nach ihrem von der Kritik gefeierten 2011er-Album 'Weather' widmet die in Berlin geborene US-Sängerin ihr zehntes Album ganz der 2003 gestorbenen Kollegin. Begleitet von Musikern wie Chris Bruce (Gitarre), Jebin Bruni (Keyboard) und Deantoni Parks (Schlagzeug) erweckt die Singer/Songwriterin, Rapperin und Bassistin einige der berühmtesten Stücke und Interpretationen Nina Simones zu neuem Leben, u. a. 'To Be Young, Gifted And Black', 'Black Is The Color Of My True Loves Hair' und 'Feelin Good'. Eine Hommage auf Augenhöhe an eine Frau, die sich wie kaum eine andere Musikerin allen Genrezugehörigkeiten, Vereinnahmungen und Erwartungen entzog, die ihre Musik selbstbewusst und im politischen Bewusstsein als 'black classical music' bezeichnete. Als prominente Gäste mit dabei sind Sinead O Connor, Lizz Wright, Valerie June, Tracy Wannomae, Toshi Reagon und Cody Chesnutt.

'Zwei Frauen. Nina Simone setzte zu ihrer Zeit die richtigen Zeichen, die ihren musikalischen Äußerungen über den Tag hinaus die Statur und Bedeutsamkeit gegeben haben – Meshell Ndegeocello geht in ebenso freidenkender Manier mit den Gesetzmäßigkeiten des Musikschaffens um und wird sicher am Ende des Tages ebenso in eherner Wichtigkeit erhalten bleiben. Umstritten, irritierend, ohne Kategorie irgendwo zwischen den Stilen und Stühlen. Eine gute, ja fast schon zwangsläufige Wahl ist daher „Pour Une…“ – diese „Dedication to Nina Simone“, die uns jetzt ein weiteres Kapitel des Musik-Begriffs der Meshell erleben lässt. Karg und rau, unverschnitten, stark, aber auch ein wenig scheu und von undefinierter Verletzlichkeit. Die Simone Songs werden zu Ndegeocellos – Gassenhauer, wie „Don´t Let Me Be Misunderstood“ oder „House Of The Rising Sun“ werden seziert, neu geordnet und definiert. Kein Jazz, kein Soul, kein Funk, kein Folk – aber irgendwie von allem ein wenig und immer ganz Meshell N.' (Sonic Soul)

Meshell Ndegeocello, bass
Chris Bruce, guitar
Jebin Bruni, keyboards
Deantoni Parks, drums

Gastmusiker sind Sinead O'Connor, Lizz Wright, Valerie June, Tracy Wannomae, Toshi Reagon and Cody ChesnuTT

Produced by Meshell Ndegeocello & Chris Bruce

Following the release of 2011′s critically acclaimed Weather, Meshell Ndegeocello announces the release of her 10th studio album, Pour une âme souveraine (“For a sovereign soul”), a dedication to fellow musician Nina Simone. Joined by musicians Chris Bruce (guitar), Jebin Bruni (keys) and Deantoni Parks (drums), the singer-songwriter, rapper, bassist, and vocalist reworked some of the tracks made famous by the iconic musician. Guests on the album include Sinead O’Connor, Lizz Wright, Valerie June, Tracy Wannomae, Toshi Reagon and Cody ChesnuTT. To celebrate the release of the album, Meshell is sharing the iconic track “Be My Husband,” which just premiered on NPR. Flush with stomps, claps and chants, Meshell is accompanied on vocals by New York singer-songwriter Valerie June.

After only ten days in the studios of guitarist Pete Min, this album was born, reflecting Meshell’s admiration for the pioneering work of an artist who refused to be owned by genre, industry, or expectation. As Meshell describes, this album is “a dedication to Nina Simone and her incredible influence but it is also a dedication to the single, interior life we all experience.” Revered by Meshell, Nina Simone was a powerful influence both musically and politically. Her music was highly instrumental in the fight for equal rights in the United States. “She wanted success, was pressured to make hits, but her own sound was still irrepressible,” explains Meshell. “She had things to say, she protested. She was a loud, proud black, female voice during a time when black female voices were not encouraged to make themselves heard.”

Comprised of a mix of traditional classics (“Feelin’ Good”), songs written by Nina Simone (“Real Real”), or for her (“To Be Young, Gifted and Black” by Weldon Irvine), the album represents a full spectrum of Nina Simone’s work and life. From the pulsing of the traditional ballad “House Of The Rising Sun,” the velvety, soul filled vocals of “Feeling Good,” and a bluegrass duet with Sinead O’Connor in “Don’t Take All Night,” Meshell Ndegeocello gives a subtle spin to the tracks off the Pour une âme souveraine.

“We really wanted to do something we felt was true to Nina Simone. By that realizing it meant we had to do what felt true to us,” says Chris Bruce, who co-produced the album along with Meshell and wrote the arrangements. “The aim was not to re-create the existing versions, because we felt strongly that the only way to honor Nina would be for Meshell to find her own voice in the material. Nina was always exploring and experimenting, and quite cathartic. If you are familiar with her work at all you will frequently find that there exist multiple versions of the same song. So we wanted to tap into that same creative spirit and make the songs our own. And in the end hopefully have something we feel she would appreciate and feel pride.”

Booklet for Pour une ame souveraine: A dedication to Nina Simone