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Nnenna Freelon Feature Story Page 2
1990 was the breakthrough year for Nnenna when she attended the Southern Arts Federation’s Jazz meeting and met Ellis Marsalis. At that time, Freelon had been singing for seven years. Marsalis was an educator looking to mentor new talent and he asked for a press kit. What Freelon didn’t know at the time was that George Butler of Columbia Records was looking for a female singer. Two years later she was signed to Columbia records.
Nneena Freelon has performed with such top artists as Ray Charles, Ellis Marsalis, Al Jarreau, Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, Diana Krall, George Benson, Herbie Hancock, Dianne reeves and Terry Blanchard to name a few. She has been awarded the Eubie Blake Award from the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute, and the Billie Holiday Award from the Acadamie du Jazz. She also had a cameo as a nightclub singer in the Mel Gibson film What Woman Want.
Last year, Nnenna toured with the Monteray Jazz festival 50th Anniversary Band on a ten-week tour of the United States that included 54 tour dates! She works her musical magic on old standards and new songs and, as Robert Daniels from Variety says, “Nnena Freelon possesses that rarest of qualities...she makes (standards) sound freshly minted, refreshingly new...her phrasing is original, surprising...she mines the (melodies) for new and hidden meaning...an imaginative spirit that reaches out and bubbles over...”
Nnenna Freelon will be sharing her talents with audiences in California at Pepperdine University Center for the Arts (March 12-13), and the La Mirada Theatre (March 14). Her current schedule also includes appearances New Mexico at the Rio Grande Theatre (April 1), the Henderson Fine Arts Center (April 3) and African American Performing Arts Center (April 4).
Nnenna Freelon believes that every person has creative potential. Her work as a national spokesperson, artist-educator and jazz singer continues to shape music and help us to “ communicate through the imaginative voice."
JazzMonthly.com
For More Information Visit www.nnenna.com |
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