Nnenna Freelon - Round Midnight

[SpazChat]

Why isn't this artist more popular?

[milkisify]

she came to our school a few weeks ago... she's really amazing & had a lot of inspiring things to say.

[paolarosati66]

she is the top as jazz singer!

[crazyguy106]

I am amused by all the comments on how Pat and Herbie are playing all over her. If it was a saxophonist up there it would've been a different story because it's classified under "instrumentals". However, with modern jazz and increasing complexity of music, these two actually ADDED to the music as Nnenna conversed with them through her phrasing and timing. They flowed together as a band and were constantly interacting rather than really "stepping over the vocalist"

[Cream1959]

anything to compare ?

[NorisBarrios]

You are amazing! i hope that one day i can meet you, i'm a singer also and i live in Guatemala best wishes from here and blessings!

[logansGT]

Heaven = Nnenna singing Round Midnight as we "make love."

[onasugol]

What a fine woman. What a fine voice. God exists. Long live the Roman Empire.

[7jazzmiss]

Just saw bugnioctavio's comment, yes, these are seasoned and experienced musicians,,,why are they constantly playing while she is trying to sing?????? She is good, she can't do her job while they are trying to steal the show....

[7jazzmiss]

The guitar player really knows better, but some musicians simply can't get out of the lime light for a singer.... if he was doing this in a solo it would be fine, however, he ruins it for the singer..if I was singing in front of that, I would certainly feel distracted .....

[bugnioctavio]

Why are Pat and Herbie playing constantly while she´s trying to sing? Great solos guys, awful comping ;)

[nancydrew5]

@bugnioctavio

Good point Bugnioctavio. Pat Metheny and Herbie are both monster players but perhaps not so much for accompanying vocalists. They are instrumentalists musicians. That's why Sarah and Ella had certain instrumentalists that they used during their performance. Not every musician knows how to comp behind a singer. Pat is awesome! But they perhaps should have gotten out of the way more and been more 'melodic' in their playing less soloing on chord changes.

[akiemurad1999]

@nancydrew5  Good observation.

[foxchapel335]

@nancydrew5 Metheny is a great player, but he ALWAYS steps on vocalist. I don't understand why any singer would want him to accompany. He's a feature instrumentalist that needs front and center. There was a point that Metheny and Herbie Hancock were trading licks in the middle of a verse. They're all great players.. just need to give a little room.

[vexedboy]

@nancydrew5 Y'know. I noticed Pat interplaying with Nnenna's singing but it didn't bother, it was cool. And she kept her cool and her game. She held the center. I thought. Pat is Pat That's what he does. Love'em.

[nancydrew5]

@vexedboy "Pat is Pat That's what he does. Love'em."

Pat is great, but on 'this performance' he was too much out front.  See it was not about him, but about the singer and his role was to accompany her' not be the star. Joe Pass would never do something like this and he was the maestro and I've heard him accompany legendary singers from Carmen McCrae to Ella to Sarah. He knew that no matter how much he brought to the table, the first rule when he is accompanying a singer, is to do just that.

[bleuivy]

see her in concert. she is GREAT!

[pippoMASO]

she's quite sexy..

[loniaz]

Sarah Vaughan did an excellent recording of this song. Need I say more

[beeshor1]

Absolutely sublime!

[aaryn1234]

Ms. Freelon is absolutely incredible.

[NotYourTypicalNegro]

Nneena is da TRUTH!

[TroalAnne]

great voice but absolutely horrendous arrangement by the guitarist, nearly ruins the song for me

[TSquared2001]

LOVE it

[jazzmunky]

Wow she's a honey!

[franklinpross]

She will be in Wash. DC Sun nite Nov.

22nd at The Kennedy Center in the Terrace Room. Sold out now, but probably

tickets available THAT nite if you go in person.... maybe it'll snow........?

[voldpilot]

She is a doll ! and a great voice too, she sings the melody instead of messing around, then those great musicians backing her do a phenominal job without ever trying to overshadow her. That's the mark of true professionals - AND why they got there ! !

[NoDoyPieConBola]

She's incredible!

[guitarmanpd]

Why on earth would you book a quartet composed of some of the greatest musicians on the face of the earth and not expect them to play with some freedom? Pat and Herbie are tasty players here as always.

[juicearibe]

they all sucks

[VOLVIKTOR]

lol

[flyingbackhome]

Excellent performance by excellent musicians - any "battle" going on must be in the listener's head. As a singer who appreciates the musicianship of instrumentalists I play with - I just don't get why anyone would think there's a battle going on.

[sysphus13]

Pat's a little to busy for Nnenna's good here...

[jpiano2158]

The reason why Pat is playing while she is singing is bc there are two chordal instruments. Both of them cant play chord. Its impossible for 2 chordal instruments to play the same harmony and he is not really in Nina's way

[tommythomaso]

This is the reason we love Peacock and Jarrett sharing the same space. Why the Polish genius Wasilewski and his brilliant countryman Kurkiewiczs are dazzling playing off each other. BTW, I;ve had this notion since hearing Frelon sing "Meaning of the Blues" that she's the best female jazz vocalist.

[andreasswarfeld]

mamaged to sing it and miss all the juice notes dont get that . A x

[mikeandmike]

agreed, good singing but just didnt have the feel in the notes

[PalomaNegra321]

If it were me... I'd be too mad at the musicians for being so "busy" that I'd lose the feeling too!

[IWannaBeOnOprah]

That was lovely! Thank you!

[franco6719]

Well, it's actually somewhat encouraging to know that even Pat Metheny is NOT perfect. Almost awful comping in this context for some reason, let's face it.

[RushInNinja]

She was about 5 feet from me when I watched her perform... Pure heaven.

[PalomaNegra321]

If this was my gig... I would have had it out with the guitar player for scatting all over my song! I know its Pat Metheny, and I should let it go.. but nothing makes a singer more angry that the other musicians trying to solo all over our melody! I have this problem all the time, and I try not to shoot angry looks over my shoulder when they do it to me. LOL

[halfblack72]

idk if he's soloing so much as kind of filling in the empty spots

[NYCBG]

There's a world of difference between a "solo" and "fill-ins".

[PalomaNegra321]

The neverending battle between vocalists and instrumentalists continues.... personally, I don't think the accompanists should take away from the vocalist's performance. What fill ins? If the woman is singing, then there isn't anything to fill! Sorry guys I'm just your typical vocalist I suppose ; )

[ksunlight00]

Sad is Pat sometimes don't know when he have to STOP playing. I really like his playing, but this time he was awful and completely needless :/

[marcellseasky]

es verdad

inutil....

[yogomonte]

OMG I got to see Nnenna live at my college last semester. I attend Appalachian State University, Boone, Nc. LOL She is great. I'm so glad I got to see her.

[Vayshen]

That didn't look like Christian McBride to me.

[JustinPoon93]

The real wonder here is seeing Pat Metheny in a suit.

[Anoush23]

lol

[PStewart0]

I bet he's wearing stripey socks or underpants

[logansGT]

Great song.....love the changes. And of course there's Nnenna. She is soooo fine, and listening to her makes my liver quiver!

[kingkrft]

Oh shoot I didn't know Pat Metheny was in that....!

[susongbird86]

awesome!!!!!i met her and she sounds like that in person !!!!!just awesome!!!!!!

[jazzimr]

=) so nice

[billaverbach]

A favorite of mine. Thelonius Monk!

Nice performance great song great band

[winpointmedia]

Nneena is a hell of a singer but...SHE IS FINE AS HELL..Boy I love some Ms. Freelon. I hope I didn't offend anybody. If I did too bad..cause she's fineeeeee. I want to be the jam in a Nneena Freelon, Cassandra Wilson sandwich

[stevefromPA]

Listening 2 Nneena after work is like having a cup of warm milk with a pat of butter b4 bed, like when I was seven.....

[keepthemusicplaying0]

Dramatic voice and performance, great video!!! Thanks for posting 5x**

[Tryezz]

Excellent

[herFLYness79]

nice...

[jazwelter]

Check Herbie comping for her. She is class,sophistication, elegance on a cool New York City night.

[JenniferGarzaMusicTV]

GREAT POST! She is fab!

[TonyBananas]

you know ..not alot of people know about her but shes great and very giving ..she came to my high school once to teach us about jazz it was an awsome experience and shes got a great voice

[taddyd1]

she's had 3 #1 Billboard jazz lps, grammy noms etc but you are right, NONE of the Jazz Divas get there props today. Dee Dee, Dianne Reeves, Rachelle F are invisible compared to Jill Scott or Dianne Krall.

[islezeus]

Hey Jill and Dianne K are good too.... don't put down one set of musicians to make the othe set look better. Betty Carter never got her props while Billie Holiday got plenty, despite her drug-induced period.

[taddyd1]

D Krall is not a professionl quality singer.

Jill scott is good but gets placed on "Jazz" themed TV shows rather than Dee Dee or Nneena, when she gets plenty of hip-hop exposure already. Much of Billy's props came after her death and MUCH more so after the Ross movi

[taddyd1]

BTW, My initial complaint didn't put them down, merely stated they got more exposure. But since you provided the forum.... you must have read my mind.

[islezeus]

I kinda agree with you, I just can't stomach when the comparisons among truly talented artists and one is put down over the other.

[pearlmusicunt]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Nnenna Freelon!!!

With all of those Grammy nominations, I am still so surprised she hasn't won a single one yet. She's my favorite female jazz vocalist.

Thank you for posting this!