Cat. No. DVD 1467: NINA SIMONE ~ LIVE AT MONTREUX 1976. EAGLE VISION EREDV 662-B.
STANDARD SCREEN 4:3 ASPECT RATIO. AUDIO: DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1. dts DIGITAL SURROUND SOUND.
FORMAT: PAL REGION: ALL REGIONS.
COLOUR RUNNING TIME: 111 MINS.
REVIEW: Nina Simone (born Eunice Kathleen Waymon) was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, arranger and civil rights activist. Her music spanned various styles including classical. jazz, gospel, blues, folk, R&B and pop. Simone began playing piano at the age of 3. She initially aspired to be a concert pianist and gave her first concert performance, a classical recital, at the age of 12. To make a living she started playing piano at a nightclub in Atlantic City. She changed her name to Nina Simone to disguise herself from family members having chosen to play the “Devil’s Music”. Simone was told at the nightclub she would have to sing to her own accompaniment which effectively launched her career as a jazz vocalist. She went on to record more than 40 albums between 1958 and 1974, making her debut with “Little Girl Blue”. She released her first hit single in the United States in 1958 with “I Loves You, Porgy”. This performance was recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1976.
Rarely has any artist made a more dramatic entrance than Nina did on this occasion. Taking the Casino stage to the expected applause, she stands motionless, demanding the crowd’s complete attention. Having established who’s the boss, she proceeded to deliver a set that kept the audience spellbound. Nina’s relationship with the Montreux Jazz Festival began in 1968, it’s second year. Contrary to her protestations that her second appearance would be her last, she returned again in 1986 and 1990, the second time with a three-piece backing band. Highlights from those two appearances have been added as bonus features. BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE *****
SONG LISTING: (1976) – Little Girl Blue / Backlash Blues / Be My Husband / I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free) / (Stars / Feelings) / African Mailman. BONUS TRACKS: (1987) – Someone To Watch Over Me / My Baby Just Cares For Me. (1990) – I Loves You Porgy / Liberian Calypso / (Four Women / Mississippi Goddam) / Ne Me Quitte Pas (Don’t Leave Me).
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