allmusic nina simone discography compilation

As NPR's Michel Martin describes it: 'Nina Simone was a gifted and prolific singer, songwriter and pianist who became a powerful presence in the civil rights movement and paid a professional price for it.'īut how did the woman who was born with the name Eunice Kathleen Waymon in poor circumstances in Tryon, North Carolina - and who, despite everything else, was enraptured with the dream of becoming above all else a classical concert pianist - come to be one of the defining artists and civil rights activists of the 20th century? The answer is not just Nine Simone's natural talent and the uncompromising attitude that she identified in herself in her final years, but also her innate strength and courage throughout a tumultuous and tragic personal life, the story of which - like her music - is utterly captivating.ĭuring this time, Simone was approached by the owner of Bethlehem Records in New York, Syd Nathan, to record an album. For anyone looking back at Nina Simone in the 21st century, it is obvious that she was always more than a brilliant singer. The quote is notable in suggesting the depth with which one must approach the figure of Simone in retrospect it was also, as we now know, prophetic. So said Nina Simone in an interview with Details magazine, reflecting on her career before her death in 2003 at the age of 70. A class act.'I want to be remembered as a diva from beginning to end who never compromised in what she felt about racism and how the world should be, and who to the end of her days consistently stayed the same.' It's as excellent and compelling as you would expect from this sublime mix series. Inside, you get shreds of house and techno from Four Tet and Nils Frahm himself, among others, but the mix explores much wider terrains Miles Davis makes an appearance with the masterful 'Concerto De Aranjuez', electronic dub maestros Rhythm & Sound join the party the timeless 'Mango Drive', and even Nina Simone's 'Who Knows Where The Time Goes' gets selected. This September is Germany's Nils Frahm who takes care of the selection, and the DJ/producer serves up a gorgeously vast selection of sounds from around the globe and from all corners of time.

Moreover, these guys have invited some of the biggest names in the game over the last fifteen years, a highly impressive catalogue which includes the likes of Fatboy Slim, Jamiroquai, AIR, Arctic Monkeys, Sly & Robbie, and many more of the same calibre. Review: Apart from Ministry Of Sound and Fabric, the Late Night Tales crew is perhaps the best and most respected compilation series these days.

Allmusic nina simone discography compilation