On December 3, 2008, Derek Wadsworth died aged 69. He was musician (cornet, trombone, keyboards), composer and arranger. He was musical director for Diana Ross, Dusty Springfield, and the musical “Hair”. As a musician and arranger he worked with Maynard Ferguson, Georgie Fame, Nina Simone, David Essex, Judy Garland, Humphrey Lyttelton, Graham Collier, Tonny Bennett, George Harrison, Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, Mike Oldfield, Simply Red, Kate Bush, Cat Stevens, Small Faces, Manferd Mann, and the Rolling Stones.
Tag Archives: Nina Simone
Nina Simone: Little Girl Blue
In February 1959, “Bethlehem Records” label released “Little Girl Blue”, the debut Nina Simone album. It was recorded in December 1957, in New York City.
Personnel:
- Nina Simone– vocals, piano, arrangements
- Jimmy Bond– double bass
- Albert “Tootie” Heath– drums
- Joseph Muranyi– liner notes
Track listing:
- Mood Indigo – Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard, Irving Mills
- Don’t Smoke in Bed – Willard Robison
- He Needs Me – Arthur Hamilton
- Little Girl Blue – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
- Love Me or Leave Me – Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn
- My Baby Just Cares for Me – Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn
- Good Bait – Count Basie, Tadd Dameron
- Plain Gold Ring – George Stone (aka Earl Burroughs)
- You’ll Never Walk Alone – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
- I Loves You, Porgy – DuBose Heyward, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
- Central Park Blues – Nina Simone
Donny Hathaway: Everything Is Everything
On July 1, 1971, “Atco” label released “Everything Is Everything”, the debut Donny Hathaway studio album. It was recorded September 1969 – April 1970, and was produced by Donny Hathaway and Ric Powell.
Personnel:
- Donny Hathaway – lead and backing vocals, electric pianos, organ, additional bass guitar, keyboard bass, arranger, conductor
- John Littlejohn – vocal, guitar
- King Curtis– guitar
- Phil Upchurch- bass guitar, guitar
- Marshall Hawkins- bass guitar
- Louis Satterfield- bass guitar
- Morris Jennings– drums
- Ric Powell – drums, percussion
- Master Henry Gibson– congas
- Clifford P. Davis – alto saxophone
- Don Myrick- alto saxophone
- Johnny Board – tenor saxophone
- Lenard Druss – tenor saxophone
- Willie Henderson- baritone saxophone
- John Howell – trumpet
- Oscar Brashear– trumpet
- Robert A. Lewis – trumpet
- Cyril Touff – bass trumpet
- John Avant – trombone
- Morris Ellis – trombone
- Aaron Dodd – tuba
- John Lounsberry – French horn
- Ethel Merker – French horn
- Paul A. Teryett – French hor
- The Vashonettes – backing vocals
- Murray Allen, Roger Anfinsen – recording
- Haig Adishian – design
- Jim Taylor – photography
Track listing:
- Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything) – Richard Evans, Ric Powell, Phil Upchurch
- Je Vous Aime (I Love You) – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson, Edward Kennedy
- I Believe to My Soul – Ray Charles
- Misty – Johnny Burke, Erroll Garner
- Sugar Lee – Donny Hathaway, Ric Powell
- Tryin’ Times – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson
- Thank You Master (For My Soul) – Donny Hathaway
- The Ghetto – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson
- To Be Young, Gifted and Black – Weldon Irvine, Nina Simone
Dee Dee Bridgewater: Red Earth
On April 17, 2007, “Universal/DDB Records/EmArcy Records” labels released “Red Earth”, the 16th Dee Dee Bridgewater album. It was recorded August – November 2006, at “Studio Bogolan” in Bamako, Mali, and “Studio Davout” in Paris, and was produced by Jean Marie Durand, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Cheick Tidiane Seck.
Personnel:
- Dee Dee Bridgewater- lead vocal
- Cheick Tidiane Seck- calebasse, Fender rhodes, karignan, Hammond organ, backing vocals
- Edsel Gomez – piano
- Ira Coleman- nass
- Minino Garay – cajon, caxixi, cymbals, drums, percussion
- Lansiné Kouyaté – balafon
- Habib “Dia” Sangaré – bolon
- Alou Kouloubali – calebasse
- Lassy “King” Massassy – rap vocals
- “Petit” Adama Diarra – djembe
- Cheick “Sékou” Oumar – djembe
- Djifli Mamadou Sanogo – djembe
- Moussa Sissikho – djembe, soloist
- Maré Sanogo – doum-doum
- Lamine Tounkara – doum-doum
- Aly Wagué – flute
- Gabriel Durand – guitar
- Modibo Kouyaté – guitar
- Jacob Soubeiga – guitar
- Djelimady Tounkara- guitar, soloist
- Benogo Diakite – kamalngoni, soloist
- Mamadou Diabaté – kora
- Cherif Samano – kora
- Yakhoba Sissokho – kora, soloist
- Adama Tounkara – ngoni
- Moriba Koïta – ngoni, soloist
- Bassekou Kouyate- ngoni, soloist
- “Pepito” Sekouba Kouyaté – tamav
- Moussa Sissoko – tama
- Ramata Diakité- vocals
- Oumou Sangare- vocals
- Fatou- background vocals
- Mamani Keïta- vocals, backing vocals
- Fatoumata Kouyaté – vocals, backing vocals
- Kabiné Kouyaté – vocals, backing vocals
- Amy Sacko – vocals, backing vocals
- Baba Sissoko- backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Dee Dee Bridgewater, except where noted.
- Afro Blue – Oscar Brown, Jr., Mongo Santamaría
- Bad Spirits
- Dee Dee – Dee Dee Bridgewater, Baba Sissoko
- Mama Don’t Ever Go Away
- Long Time Ago – Dee Dee Bridgewater, Wayne Shorter
- Children Go ‘Round
- The Griots
- Oh My Love
- Four Women – Nina Simone
- No More
- Red Earth
- Meanwhile – Dee Dee Bridgewater, Edsel Gomez
- Compared to What – Lassy “King” Massassy, Gene McDaniels
Nina Simone: Silk & Soul
In October 1967, “RCA” label released “Silk & Soul”, the thirteenth Nina Simone studio album. It was recorded in 1967, at “RCA Victor’s Studio B”, and was produced by Danny Davis.
Personnel:
- Nina Simone – vocals, piano
- Gene Taylor- bass
- Sammy Lowe- arrangements, conductor
- Ray Hall – engineer
Track listing:
- It Be’s That Way Sometime – Sam Waymon
- The Look of Love – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
- Go to Hell – Morris Bailey, Jr.
- Love O’ Love – Andy Stroud
- Cherish – Terry Kirkman
- I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free – Billy Taylor
- Turn Me On – John D. Loudermilk
- Turning Point – Martha Holmes
- Some Say – Charles Reuben
- Consummation – Nina Simone
Jacques Brel
On October 9, 1978, Jacques Romain Georges Brel died aged 49. He was a Belgian singer, songwriter and actor, widely considered a master of the modern chanson. He recorded most of his songs in French and in Dutch, but he became a major influence on English speaking songwriters and performers such as David Bowie, Alex Harvey, Leonard Cohen, Marc Almond and Rod McKuen. The English translations of his songs were recorded by many famous performers including Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Judy Collins, John Denver, the Kingston Trio, Scott Walker and Andy Williams. Having sold over 25 million records worldwide, Brel is the fourth best-selling Belgian recording artist of all time.
Nina Simone
On April 21, 2003, Eunice Kathleen Waymon aka Nina Simone, died aged 70. She was singer, songwriter, musician (piano), arranger, and civil rights activist. In her career, Simone has recorded more than forty albums. Many famous musicians have cited Simone as their influence, among the others: Aretha Franklin, Adele, David Bowie, Antony and the Johnsons, Dianne Reeves , Sade , Beyoncé, Janis Joplin , Nick Cave, Jeff Buckley, Van Morrison, Elkie Brooks, Lena Horne, Bono, Cat Stevens, Peter Gabriel, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Elton John, Alicia Keys and Lana Del Rey. John Lennon cited Simone’s version of “I Put a Spell on You” as a inspiration for the Beatles’ song “Michelle”.
For her work, Simone received various awards including:
- In 2000, “Grammy Hall of Fame Award”for her interpretation of “I Love You, Porgy”
- Honorary degrees in music and humanities, from the “University of Massachusetts Amherst” and “Malcolm X College”
- Honorary degree by the “Curtis Institute of Music”
- In 2002, city of Nijmegen, in Netherlands, named a street the “Nina Simone straat”
- In 2009, Simone was inducted into the “North Carolina Music Hall of Fame”
- In 2010, her home town Tryon, in North Carolina, placed her statue in the “Trade Street”
Aretha Franklin: Young, Gifted And Black
On January 24, 1972, “Atlantic” label released “Young, Gifted and Black”, the nineteenth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded August 1970 – February 1971, and was produced by Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin and Jerry Wexler. In 1972, the album won Aretha Franklin “Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance”. In 2003, the TV network “VH1” ranked it the 76th greatest album of all time.
Personnel:
- Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, acoustic piano, celesta, electric piano
- Don Arnone – acoustic guitar
- Cornell Dupree- guitar
- Hugh McCracken- guitar
- Donny Hathaway- organ, electric piano
- Billy Preston- organ
- Eric Gale- bass
- Chuck Rainey- bass
- Robert Popwell- bass, percussion
- Bernard “Pretty” Purdie- drums
- Al Jackson, Jr.- drums
- Ray Lucas – drums
- The Memphis Horns- horn section
- Andrew Love (of the Memphis Horns) – tenor saxophone
- Neal Rosengarden – trumpet, vibraphone
- Wayne Jackson (of the Memphis Horns) – trumpet
- Hubert Laws- flute
- Tom Dowd- horn arrangements
- Pat Smith – backing vocals
- Ronald Bright – backing vocals
- R. Bailey – backing vocals
- Carolyn Franklin- backing vocals
- Erma Franklin- backing vocals
- Margaret Branch – backing vocals
- Ann S. Clark – backing vocals
- The Sweet Inspirations- backing vocals
- Sammy Turner – backing vocals
- Stanislaw Zagorski – cover design
- David Nathan – liner notes
Track listing:
- Oh Me Oh My (I’m a Fool for You Baby) – Jim Doris
- Day Dreaming – Aretha Franklin
- Rock Steady – Aretha Franklin
- Young, Gifted and Black – Weldon Irvine, Nina Simone
- All the King’s Horses – Aretha Franklin
- A Brand New Me – Theresa Bell, Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble
- April Fools – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
- I’ve Been Loving You Too Long – Jerry Butler, Otis Redding
- First Snow in Kokomo – Aretha Franklin
- The Long and Winding Road – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) – Thom Bell, William Hart
- Border Song (Holy Moses) – Bernie Taupin, Elton John
The Birdland Jazz Club
On December 15, 1949, “The Birdland Jazz Club”, named after Charlie Parker, opens in New York City. The club was located at “1678 Broadway” and worked until in 1965. The club re-opened for in1979 and in 1986 the second club located in “Manhattan’s Theater District” opened. The club current location is in the building next to The New York Observer headquarters.Some of the biggest names in Jazz history performed in “Birdland” including: Chet Baker; Count Basie; Roy Haynes; Jon Hendricks; Billie Holiday; Dave Holland; Freddie Hubbard; Hank Jones; Quincy Jones; Michel Legrand; Ramsey Lewis; Pat Martino; George Benson; Art Blakey; Dave Brubeck; Ron Carter; John Coltrane; Miles Davis; Sammy Davis Jr.; Blossom Dearie; Billy Eckstine; Duke Ellington; Maynard Ferguson; Ella Fitzgerald; Slim Gaillard; Erroll Garner; Stan Getz; Modern Jazz Quartet; Thelonious Monk; Anita O’Day; Charlie Parker; Oscar Peterson; Machito; Tito Puente; Bud Powell; Horace Silver; Nina Simone; Jimmy Smith; Billy Taylor; Clark Terry; McCoy Tyner; Sarah Vaughan; Dinah Washington; Joe Williams; Tony Williams; Lester Young; Michael Brecker; Melissa Manchester; Pat Metheny; Liza Minnelli; Michel Petrucciani; Harry Connick Jr.; Kurt Elling; Kevin Eubanks; Norah Jones; Diana Krall; Joe Lovano; John Pizzarelli; John Scofield; Maria Schneider; Phoebe Snow; Phil Woods and Yellowjacket.
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