Strange Fruit - Nina Simone
treitz3
Posts: 19,145
https://youtu.be/ughAVo2ZAag
So, I am working on things in the office tonight and my wife, Kim is watching this show called, "Cold Case". I have mentioned to her before that I dig her watching this as I am working because the songs they play are well, pretty cool. Most of them anyways.
So, tonight I am listening to this one song and I mentioned to her that I would LOVE to hear this song on the rig. It was soft, I honestly (and so did she) thought that it was a man singing but I was really interested in finding out who this singer was. The tune was right up my alley for some mood music (audiophile style).
Come to find out that it actually was a woman singing and this was verified by the video. Have any of you ever heard of her before and if there is a recording that is sought after or one that you would recommend by her? I am ALL ears. I really dug what sample I heard tonight. Talk to me.
Tom
So, I am working on things in the office tonight and my wife, Kim is watching this show called, "Cold Case". I have mentioned to her before that I dig her watching this as I am working because the songs they play are well, pretty cool. Most of them anyways.
So, tonight I am listening to this one song and I mentioned to her that I would LOVE to hear this song on the rig. It was soft, I honestly (and so did she) thought that it was a man singing but I was really interested in finding out who this singer was. The tune was right up my alley for some mood music (audiophile style).
Come to find out that it actually was a woman singing and this was verified by the video. Have any of you ever heard of her before and if there is a recording that is sought after or one that you would recommend by her? I am ALL ears. I really dug what sample I heard tonight. Talk to me.
Tom
~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
Comments
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You've never heard of Nina Simone? Her story is absolutely fascinating. She was an almost unbelievably accomplished pianist, on the side.
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https://youtu.be/_AsKyYBewWY
https://youtu.be/LJ25-U3jNWM
Given the subject matter, I find Strange Fruit to be a really difficult listen
Billie Holiday's version is epochal.
https://youtu.be/Web007rzSOI
PS Not quite sure how I managed to get this into two separate posts. Sorry! -
All discussion on this is welcome, Doc. Thank you, sir.
While this may be *new* to me? I am quite sure (as evidenced by your post) that others have more experience than I.
It is that experience that I yearn for. Thanks again.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Might want to try the music forums at a place like audioasylum or maybe the Hoffman forum (or suchlike).
Nina Simone isn't particularly esoteric -- but she's from another era; classical/traditional "jazz" fans will likely be much more attuned to her work, although she wasn't really a jazz performer.
I don't get the sense there are many jazz or Great American Songbook aficionados at the Polk
forums, but I could be wrong. Someone like @SeleniumFalcon probably has way more on point suggestions for you, come to think of it!
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speaking of music a bit off the main axis of the usual around these parts -- and, seriously, not tryign to derail your thread/question(!), but...
Do you know Sister Rosetta Tharpe?
https://youtu.be/3NFywQdeKSo -
If you do Netflix...2015 bio documentry, What Happened, Miss Simone?
https://www.netflix.com/title/70308063
They used her 1965 cover of Sinnerman in the The Thomas Crown Affair 1999 repop. I enjoyed both the movie and her cover. Sinnerman from her '65 album Pastel Blues. Her version ran for over 10 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH3Fx41Jpl4Post edited by SCompRacer onSalk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
Netflix documentary was very interesting. She was quite the talent
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mhardy6647 wrote: »....
I don't get the sense there are many jazz or Great American Songbook aficionados at the Polk
forums, but I could be wrong. ....
I will stand up proudly to that!
My hit of choice for that affliction is Ella, but there are many fine interpretations.
Some fairly surprising & interesting. Think Dame Kiri Te Kanawa doing Nelson Riddle arrangements.
And yes, Nina Simone had some serious chops.
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mhardy6647 wrote: »....
I don't get the sense there are many jazz or Great American Songbook aficionados at the Polk
forums, but I could be wrong. ....
I will stand up proudly to that!
My hit of choice for that affliction is Ella, but there are many fine interpretations.
Some fairly surprising & interesting. Think Dame Kiri Te Kanawa doing Nelson Riddle arrangements.
And yes, Nina Simone had some serious chops.
Hey, I said [not] many. Not none.
I listen to such things, too -- and I very much grew up listening to such.
PS The older I get and the more music I've heard, I am asymptotically reaching the conclusion that Ella in her prime was the most perfect female vocalist ever. Or at least, of all those whose singing was ever captured for posterity acoustically or electrically.
Listen, e.g., to her Song Book albums (e.g., Cole Porter). She makes it seem so easy (as did Sinatra in his prime). -
So I ran across this today at Open Culture.
As mentioned, Serious Chops.
Ah! Bach! *
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cnZjClf6zM
*
read the article for more info, should you wish
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She was yet another great Jazz musician born in North Carolina (Tryon) (in addition to John Coltrane (Hamlet), Thelonious Monk (Rocky Mount), Max Roach (Pasquotank Co.), Percy Heath (Wilmington), Tina Brooks (Fayetteville), etc. etc.
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So, I bought the album (CD). It bites the big one. So restricted and nothing audiophile about it.
Streaming, on the other hand? AUDIOPHILE. At least on Qobuz.
That said, I haven't had this one in rotation in a while. I do need to listen to it again. I LOVE her voice.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Nina Simone would be best put in "Folk/Blues/Classical & Jazz" a long ago hidden treasure within the musical & black community. Many of her songs become Anthems during the Civil Rights marches "Young Gifted and Black" and her rendition of "Strange Fruit" (best sung by Billie Holiday) a song that started the long storied history of anti lynching laws (only took 60 plus years to get it done)Family Room HT 7.2/i]:Vizio Oled55h1 Pioneer Elite SC-LX502 Pioneer Elite BDP 85FD Eversolo DMP A6 Panamax M5300-EXSpeakers Fronts Fluance XF8L Center Polk Audio S35 Side Surrounds Fluance bipolar Rear Surrounds FluanceXF8 Bookshelf Subs SVS PB4000 x2 Living room 2ch: Crown Xli 1500 amp x2, Teac EQ MKII FX Audio X6 Mk II DAC Squeezebox Touch Fluance Signature Tower Speakers Panamax M5100-EXOffice media room:Vizio M50Q6 50" Pioneer Elite VSX LX301 Eversolo DMP-A6 Polkaudio R600 Towers Polkaudio Center R350 Panamax M4300 Monoprice 12" subMaster bedroom:Vizio M55Q7 Pioneer Elite VSX LX302 Pioneer Elite BDP 85FD Squeezebox Touch Fluance Signature Bookshelf fronts, Rears Fluance Signature Bipolar Polk Audio CS10 center Monoprice 12" sub Panamax M5300-EX