Ledisi Sings Nina

Ledisi Sings Nina is the tenth studio album by American singer Ledisi. The album was released on July 23, 2021, by her record label Listen Back Entertainment and distributed by BMG Rights Management. The album was recorded in collaboration with the Metropole Orkest. Ledisi Sings Nina is a tribute album to American singer-songwriter and civil rights activist Nina Simone. The album was nominated for Outstanding Jazz Vocal Album at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards and a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.Nominees and Host Anthony Anderson Announced for the "53rd NAACP Image Awards" Airing Saturday, February 26th at 8:00 PM ET / PT on BET . NAACP. Retrieved on June 15, 2024Ledisi Young Grammy Wins and Nomination History. Grammy. Retrieved on November 21, 2025

Background In 2003, Ledisi recounted first listening to Nina Simone.Nina Simone Saved Ledisi's Life. Now She's Paying Tribute on an Album . New York Times. Retrieved on June 15, 2024 After the release of her second album Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue in 2002, she reached a stagnation in her music career.Column: Finding salvation from dark places through Ledisi and Nina Simone . Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on June 15, 2024

After hearing Nina Simone's cover version of "Trouble in Mind" on the radio, Ledisi repudiated her thoughts of suicide and revived her career. In 2006, she secured a record deal with major label Verve Forecast Records and went on to release a total of seven albums during her duration on the label. In 2006, Ledisi starred as Aunt Sara in The Tale of Four; a short film inspired by the song Four Women by Nina Simone. In 2017, she incorporated songs from Simone's repertoire into her concert with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO Pops) at the Kennedy Center. In 2018, she headlined a tribute concert to Simone in New Orleans with the drummer Adonis Rose and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra.

Recording

In 2021, Ledisi began recording the album. Live recordings from her 2019 performance with the Metropole Orkest at the Royal Albert Hall in London were also used for the album. Ledisi enlisted in the aid of Jules Buckley, who conducted the Metropole Orkest for five songs. The Metropole Orkest were credited as featured performers on "Feeling Good", "My Baby Just Cares for Me", "Ne Me Quitte Pas (Don't Leave Me)", "Work Song", and "Four Women". The cover version of "Four Women" features American singers Lizz Wright, Alice Smith, and Lisa Fischer, the latter of whom performed the song with Ledisi during their performance at The Royal Albert Hall in London.Mississippi Goddam: Ledisi and Lisa Fischer sing Nina Simone (Review) . The Soul House. Retrieved on June 15, 2024

Release and promotion On November 28, 2020, American television network PBS aired Ledisi Live: A Tribute to Nina Simone.Ledisi Live: A Tribute to Nina Simone . PBS. Retrieved on June 15, 2024 The concert was recorded at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas.Ledisi Live: A Tribute to Nina Simone . Rhode Island PBS. Retrieved on June 15, 2024 A cover version of Nina Simone's interpretation of "Feeling Good" was released as a single on July 9, 2021.Ledisi - Feeling Good . AllMusic. Retrieved on June 15, 2024

On July 17, 2021, Ledisi held a virtual listening party for the album."Ledisi Sings Nina" Virtual Pre-Release Album Listening Party . YouTube. Retrieved on June 15, 2024 In collaboration with BMG Rights Management, Ledisi Sings Nina released by Listen Back Entertainment on July 23, 2021. Shortly after the release of the album, PBS began airing reruns of the concert special Ledisi Live: A Tribute to Nina Simone. On April 4, 2022, she performed "Ne Me Quitte Pas (Don't Leave Me)" at the premiere ceremony to the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. On April 15, 2022, the album was released on vinyl.Ledisi - Ledisi Sings Nina (Vinyl) . Discogs. Retrieved on June 15, 2024

Tour

In 2019, Ledisi headlined the Nina and Me Tour.Ledisi Looks Ahead To Concert Tour With Special 'Nina And Me' Shows . Soul Bounce. Retrieved on June 15, 2024 The tour ran from May 10, 2019, to October 18, 2019. During her concert performances at Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis, Missouri, she was joined by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. She was joined by the Metropole Orkest for the performances at Royal Albert Hall in London and The Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.Mississippi Goddam: An Homage to Nina Simone . Metropole Orkest. Retrieved on June 15, 2024 After the release of Ledisi Sings Nina, Ledisi embarked on the Ledisi Sings Nina Tour, which featured spot dates from July 2021 to late 2023.Ledisi Sings Nina Simone . The Hollywood Bowl. Retrieved on June 15, 2024Ledisi Sings Nina . Carnegie Hall. Retrieved on June 15, 2024LEDISI to Play a Tribute to Nina Simone September 15, 2023 at 8:00 pm . Patch. Retrieved on June 15, 2024

Commercial performance Ledisi Sings Nina debuted at number two on Billboard's Classical Crossover Albums chart, spending a total of fifteen weeks on the chart.Ledisi Billboard Chart History . Billboard. Retrieved on June 6, 2024 The album spent one week on the US Classical Albums chart, peaking at number twelve. It peaked at number thirteen on the Jazz Albums chart, while peaking at number eleven on the Billboard'''s Traditional Jazz Albums chart.

Critical reception

Andy Kellman of AllMusic felt Ledisi Sings Nina was "most appealing because that Ledisi is herself at all times, empowered by Simone yet utterly distinct." Kellman also considered the album as "crucial to Ledisi's discography as any of her [past] four Grammy-nominated albums." He also selected "Feeling Good", "Four Women", and "I'm Going Back Home" as the album's highlights and standout songs. Salamishah Tillet of The New York Times felt the album "showcase both the diversity and depth of Simone’s musicianship and the breathtaking range and reach of Ledisi’s own voice. LZ Granderson of The Los Angeles Times remarked that "although some of the lyrics were penned more than half a century ago, Ledisi molds them with contemporary hands, creating a stunning piece of art. It is a thank-you to the voice that led to her salvation. It is a note of encouragement for those who may find themselves in a dark space. It is a prayer for fewer dark spaces for us all."

Accolades

! scope="row"| 2022 | Grammy Award | Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album | rowspan="2"| Ledisi Sings Nina''

! scope="row"| 2022 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Jazz Vocal Album

Listings +Listings for Ledisi Sings Nina Year Publication List 2021 All Music Favorite Jazz (and Beyond) Albums

Track listing

Charts Chart (2021) Peakposition US Classical Albums (Billboard) 12 US Classical Crossover Albums (Billboard) 2 US Jazz Albums (Billboard) 13 US Traditional Jazz Albums (Billboard) 11

References