01 - Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair {00:06:11} 02 - Tell Me More And More And Then Some {00:04:11} 03 - Keeper Of The Flame {00:04:15} 04 - Don't Smoke In Bed {00:02:13} 05 - See-Line Woman {00:02:33} 06 - My Man's Gone Now {00:06:07} 07 - Wild Is The Wind {00:04:00} 08 - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood {00:03:58} 09 - I'm Just Like You {00:02:59}
Nina Simone inspires me in unimaginable ways. Upon encountering her music as a college student, I was captivated by her voice and artistry. Her prodigious piano playing and unique voice spoke to my soul. When I heard her voice, I could see the text in an almost technicolor way. At that very time, I was studying the vocal art of text painting by composers such as Schubert and Schumann. From the first time I heard Nina, she was in full display in her vocal murals. I was transfixed and sought to do the same in my own music making. The beauty of her art was also congruent to the musicianship I was acquiring. Her aspirations of being a classical pianist were akin to mine as an opera singer of African descent. I believe we both found it daunting but attainable.
Much like Nina Simone, I am an anomaly and have found my journey challenging because I don't fit in the box so easily. It has caused me to create my own world much like she did. Exploring Nina's catalogue as example, was the first step of many to form a sound of my own using all the worlds I loved. Not that I was aiming to imitate her but rather find the freedom of expression she documented. My own journey has been a constant evolution to embrace my entire self, worrying less about titles but more on the truth. My truth would be whatever I felt convicted enough to record with an unparalleled honesty.
ABIAH Sings NINA is my homage to her great legacy and tutelage. I'm honored to have learned from her exquisite covers that ultimately became her own. In that same tradition, I aim to reimagine her contributions in hopes of elongating her influence and reaching depths of my own.
Abiah - vocals Andre Chez Lewis - piano Keith Witty - bass Chris Eddleton - drums David Rosenthal - guitar Gil deFay - horns Kristine Kruta -strings Stephanie Yu - strings Sarah Haines - strings Kevin Lucero - strings Christine Shieh - strings
