Soulcall

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Through six albums, Nnenna Freelon has proven herself a versatile singer with exquisite taste, a sure sense of swing, and immaculate articulation and phrasing. Though originally compared to Sarah Vaughan, Freelon has carved her niche and developed her own style, no mean feat in the jazz-unfriendly 1990s. Like many contemporary jazz singers, Freelon doesn't stick to the jazz canon to make her point. Sure, she can sing and scat standards (like "Just in Time" here) all night long, but why stay there? While she cavorts through funk, pop, gospel, and jazz stylings on Soulcall, Freelon infuses it all--her singing, arrangements, and even weak choices of cover songs--with the kind of steel-willed direction, skill, and dedication that simply make anything she chooses to sing work like a charm. So a hoary chestnut like "Let It Be Me" becomes a beautiful love call; "Straighten Up and Fly Right" (with Take 6) and "Paper Moon" become sparkling, expansive, jazz gems. Freelon remakes every song in her own image, erasing Aretha from memory on "Say a Little Prayer for You" and turning "Amazing Grace" and "Nearer My God to Thee" into compelling personal declarations of faith. The title track bubbles over gentle bossa nova waves, Freelon's voice as sumptuous as sculpted honey, a beautiful instrument from a woman who fills every second with grace. --Ken Micallef

Tracks:

Better Than Anything
Let It Be Me
Straighten Up And Fly Right
Amazing Grace (Duo Version)
Button Up Your Overcoat
One Child At A Time
I Say A Little Prayer
If It's Magic
Soulcall
Just In Time
Paper Moon
You're Nearer/Nearer My God To Thee
Amazing Grace (Trio Version)

Amazon.com

Through six albums, Nnenna Freelon has proven herself a versatile singer with exquisite taste, a sure sense of swing, and immaculate articulation and phrasing. Though originally compared to Sarah Vaughan, Freelon has carved her niche and developed her own style, no mean feat in the jazz-unfriendly 1990s. Like many contemporary jazz singers, Freelon doesn't stick to the jazz canon to make her point. Sure, she can sing and scat standards (like "Just in Time" here) all night long, but why stay there? While she cavorts through funk, pop, gospel, and jazz stylings on Soulcall, Freelon infuses it all--her singing, arrangements, and even weak choices of cover songs--with the kind of steel-willed direction, skill, and dedication that simply make anything she chooses to sing work like a charm. So a hoary chestnut like "Let It Be Me" becomes a beautiful love call; "Straighten Up and Fly Right" (with Take 6) and "Paper Moon" become sparkling, expansive, jazz gems. Freelon remakes every song in her own image, erasing Aretha from memory on "Say a Little Prayer for You" and turning "Amazing Grace" and "Nearer My God to Thee" into compelling personal declarations of faith. The title track bubbles over gentle bossa nova waves, Freelon's voice as sumptuous as sculpted honey, a beautiful instrument from a woman who fills every second with grace. --Ken Micallef

Customer Reviews:

Very good.......2003-05-21

NNenna Freelon has been one of artists that I have listened more on last times. this CD has great moments like: "Let it be me", whose words & music are contagiant.
I think NNENNA has a brilliant future; she's one of the best singers that I ever heard, beside Dionne Warwick, Anita Baker, Lisa Stansfield and Oleta Adams.

Lovely voice, mediocore song selection.......2002-11-09

This is my first Nnenna Freelon CD, and I fear I did not choose wisely. Her voice is beautiful, warm, enticing, but I do not like many of the songs she chose for the album, and when I do like the song, I find the arrangement, backup vocals, and odd R&B/gospel touches annoying. It's not worth it to me to cringe through "One Child at a Time" to get to "Nearer My God to Thee". Your mileage may vary, but the tracks on this album are too far from the lounge and too close to the easy listening station for my taste.

Awesome!.......2001-07-27

It is a must have! Nnenna Freelon is da bomb! This album is superb from start to finish. Your CD collection won't be complete without it.

Better than anything? Just about!..........2001-03-06

Well! Where do we begin? I wish I knew how to say "this CD is absolutely splendid" in 387 different languages, not excluding Tagalog, Urdu, Welsh, Sanskrit, Esperanto and Old Church Slavonic.

Was listening to WGBH radio here in Boston about three weeks ago when "Better than Anything" came on, and I stopped and thought WHO IS THIS? Awesome song. And then, the performance of "Straighten Up" on the Grammys with Take 6: I've been cool-down-poppa-ing ever since!

Can't think of the exact words to describe the enticing slyness of the vocal delivery in the old standard "Button Up Your Overcoat", but suffice it to say it has to be heard to be believed.

There is the urgent sincerity of "One Child at a Time," and there are two versions of "Amazing Grace" (the trio version excels). "I Say a Little Prayer for You" -- one of the best tracks on this compact disc.

In the liner notes, Nnenna Freelon tells us that she finds "the same spiritual power" in songs intended for praise of God and "in certain songs not necessarily written for praise purposes." Furthermore, "all good things come from the same source." Well, praise to that Source for inspiring Nnenna to sing these songs and to sing them the way she does.

A Must Have!.......2001-02-09

I just picked up this cd, and I love it. I noticed that she's nominated for two Grammys (including Best Jazz Vocal), and will also be performing on the show (Wed. Feb. 21st). I hope she wins, considering this is my favorite album of the year!

Music:

Music

Music