NNENNA FREELON — Maiden Voyage (1998) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Nnenna Freelon's fifth CD should establish her as one of the top jazz singers of the 1990s. Rather than stick to typical jazz standards, she explore women's songs (or at least lyrics) from many fields of music. Her compelling interpretation of the title track, with its infrequently heard lyric by Mrs. Herbie Hancock, is followed by a hypnotic original lyric written by Freelon for Marian McPartland's "Threnody," titled "Sepia Wing" in its vocal incarnation. One of the more unusual songs selected is folk singer Buffy Saint-Marie's "Until It's Time for You to Go"; Freelon drastically rearranged this tune by changing the melody line and adding an uptempo vamp, and Bob Mintzer's soprano sax accents are also a nice touch. The moody lament written by the late Laura Nyro, "Buy and Sell," is also an intriguing chart by the singer. Of course, she's no slouch with standard Broadway fare either, as her lively duet with guitarist Joe Beck proves. Ken Dryden

Tracklist :

1 Come Into My Life 5:22

Written-By – Nona Hendryx

2 Four Women 4:54

Written-By – Nina Simone

3 Maiden Voyage 8:26

Lyrics By – Jean Hancock

Music By – Herbie Hancock

Piano – Herbie Hancock

4 Buy And Sell 5:29

Written-By – Laura Nyro

5 Future News Blues 4:43

Written-By – Nnenna Freelon

6 Until It's Time For You To Go 6:00

Written-By – Buffy Sainte-Marie

7 Women Be Wise 8:08

Written-By – Sippie Wallace

8 Sepia Wing 5:46

Lyrics By – Nnenna Freelon

Music By – Marian McPartland

9 Pick Yourself Up 4:09

Lyrics By – Dorothy Fields

Music By – Jerome Kern

10 I Won't Dance 4:33

Lyrics By – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh, Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach

Music By – Jerome Kern

11 Inside A Silent Tear 4:30

Lyrics By – Linda Albert

Music By – Blossom Dearie

12 Sing Me Down 4:18

Written-By – Nnenna Freelon

Credits :

Bass Clarinet – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 2, 4, 7)
Cello – Jesse Levy (tracks: 2, 4)
Double Bass – Avishai Cohen (tracks: 1-6, 12), Peter Washington (tracks: 8, 10, 11)
Drums – Clarence Penn (tracks: 8, 10, 11), Danny Gottlieb (tracks: 1-6, 12)
Flute – Dave Valentin (tracks: 8, 10)
Guitar – Joe Beck (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12)
Percussion – Sammy Figueroa (tracks: 1-6, 8, 10, 11, 12)
Piano – Michael Abene (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12)
Soprano Saxophone – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 1, 6)
Tenor Saxophone – Dick Oatts (tracks: 10, 11)
Trombone – Ed Neumeister (tracks: 10)
Vocals – Nnenna Freelon

NNENNA FREELON - Shaking Free (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For this excellent effort, Nnenna Freelon solidifies her position as one of the better female jazz singers of the 1990s. Her appealing voice and versatility are well displayed throughout a set that includes a 5/4 version of "Out of This World," the folk song "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair," "Birk's Works," "I Thought About You," "Nature Boy," and three originals. Freelon is ably assisted by her regular rhythm section of the period (pianist Bill Anschell, bassist John Brown, and drummer Woody Williams), and there are worthwhile guest spots for guitarist Scott Sawyer, Rickey Woodard on tenor and soprano, and Alex Acuna on congas. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Out of This World 6:01
Harold Arlen / Jimmy McHugh / Johnny Mercer
2 Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair 6:03
Traditional
3 I Live to Love You 4:18
Oscar Castro-Neves / Luverci Fiorini / Ray Gilbert
4 Shaking Free 5:17
Bill Anschell / John Brown / Nnenna Freelon / Woody Williams
5 Stories We Hold 4:54
Bill Anschell / Nnenna Freelon
6 Birk's Works 4:30
Dizzy Gillespie
7 My Shining Hour 4:37
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
8 Visions 4:04
Stevie Wonder
9 I Thought About You 5:04
James Van Heusen / Johnny Mercer
10 What Am I Here For? 6:36
Duke Ellington / Frankie Laine
11 Nature Boy 4:15
Eden Ahbez
12 Blue Daughter 2:22
Nnenna Freelon
Credits:
Congas – Alex Acuña (tracks: 3, 4, 8)
Double Bass – John Brown
Drums – Woody Williams
Guitar – Scott Sawyer (tracks: 3 to 5, 8, 12)
Piano – Bill Anschell
Soprano Saxophone – Rickey Woodard (tracks: 2, 11)
Tenor Saxophone – Rickey Woodard (tracks: 9)
Vocals – Nnenna Freelon