Nina Simone

Like the 1963 LP Nina Simone at Carnegie Hall, this was recorded in front of a devoted and enthusiastic live audience at Carnegie Hall on May 12, 1963. It isn't just unworthy leftovers, but a strong set in its own right, concentrating on material that could be seen as traditional or folk in orientation. It's not exactly strictly folk music, in repertoire or arrangement (which includes piano, guitar, bass, and drums, though not every tune has all of the instruments); "Twelfth of Never"  certainly isn't folk music. However, there was also an uptempo piano blues, Leadbelly's "Silver City Bound"; covers of the Israeli "Erets Zavat Chalav" and "Vanetihu" which served as further proof that Simone's eclecticism knew no bounds; and the stark, moody, spiritually shaded ballads at which she excelled ("When I Was a Young Girl," "Hush Little Baby"). "Lass of the Low Country" is as exquisitely sad-yet-beautiful as it gets. - Richie Unterberger/AMG

PERSONNEL:

NINA SIMONE, piano, vocals
ALVIN SCHACKMAN, guitar
PHIL ORLANDO, guitar
LISLE ACKINSON, bass
MONTEGO JOE, drums

Carnegie Hall, New York, May 12th 1963.

SIDE A:

1. Silver City Bound
2. When I Was A Young Girl
3. Erets Zavat Chalav
4. Lass Of The Low Country

SIDE B:

01. The Young Night
02. Twelfth Of Never
03. Vanetihu
04. You Can Sing A Rainbow / Hush Little Baby Nina Simone: Folksy Nina