7. Nina SimoneAnd Piano
This album speaks so much more to me than Simone’s soul output. I love those as well of course, but this one was just so much fun to discover. Her piano playing is so outstanding.
It’s the singular album that has inspired me and my work most when it comes to cover interpretations. She is so much herself, even when playing other people’s songs. You never think about it being her song or not.. This came out in ’69 so you have to realise that she was picking songs of her contemporaries. These weren’t old or “classic” songs then but her take on all of them and her presence is amazing. I’m blown away by it.
I grew up in a religious home and listened to a lot of religious and gospel music. There’s something incredibly attractive in her contemporary gospel and blues interpretations of songs. And I guess there’s also link there to the seriousness of my own music. I’m used to musical content that comes with a message…You’re supposed to feel something when you hear music and this album very much did this for me.
