The iconic vocalist, pianist and songwriter Nina Simone, whose social justice anthems, uncompromising nature and sublime musical traits have endeared the late artist to millions, was the subject of a celebratory BBC Prom last Friday.
Vocalist Ledisi, who played a sold out show at Band on the Wall earlier this year, was joined by Grammy award-winning artist Lisa Fischer and three tremendous supporting singers to deliver some of Simone’s finest pieces. Jules Buckley and The Metropole Orkest delivered rich and inventive orchestral arrangements of the work, giving a grandeur to each composition. Back in 2015, Laura Mvula spoke to founding member of The Last Poets, Abiodun Oyewole, about Simone’s influential performance at the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969, which took place in the very park where the poetry group formed.
Watch the full Prom, including a beautiful rendition of Four Women ninety minutes in, here, and revisit Mvula’s interview with Oyewole here.
Check out the full article over at the Guide to the World of Music