Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, and Joni Mitchell
PERFORMANCE GUIDE
Celebrating Great Women of Jazz:
Cuesheet
LYNNE ARRIALE, CARLA COOK, AND GRACE KELLY
A PERFORMANCE AND DEMONSTRATION Jazz artists Lynne Arriale (pianist), Carla Cook (vocalist), and Grace Kelly (saxophonist) come together to honor and celebrate three music legends: Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, and Joni Mitchell. Joined by Evan Gregor on bass and Ross Pederson on drums, the quintet performs this musical tribute with reinterpretations of popular favorites, plus some original compositions.
MEET THE HONOREES NINA SIMONE (1933–2003)
American vocalist, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist Abbey Lincoln was one of jazz music’s most fearless and uncompromising performers. With a deep voice and distinctive singing style, she understood how to capture and express the emotional dimensions of a song. Careful to find some personal meaning in everything she sang, her performances were known for being intensely passionate and powerful. This was especially true of her own original compositions, many of which advocated for racial equality and connected to America’s Civil Rights Movement.
American pianist, composer, vocalist, and civil rights activist Nina Simone began playing the piano at age four. She was a natural talent and aspired to be a classical concert pianist. Her plans changed, however, when she was denied a college music scholarship because of the color of her skin. As a result, she began playing jazz in small clubs, where she was also asked to sing. Audiences were won over by her flawless piano technique and unique voice. Soon Simone began writing her own music focusing on issues that were important to her, including the Civil Rights Movement. She is best remembered for these personal, expressive works in which she incorporated elements from different musical styles including jazz, blues, folk, classical, and gospel.
Photo by Jac. de Nijs / Anefo
ABBEY LINCOLN (1930–2010)
JONI MITCHELL (b. 1943) Known for her low, airy voice, complex guitar and piano compositions, and insightful, poetic lyrics, Canadian vocalist and composer Joni Mitchell is one of the most adventurous artists of her generation. She’s continued to challenge and evolve her characteristic sound throughout her career, often experimenting with different musical styles. In the late 1970s, Mitchell began collaborating with respected jazz musicians including renowned jazz bassist Charles Mingus—another artist attentive to addressing political and social issues in his work. Almost 30 albums and countless performances and awards later, she has refused to be confined by boundaries of musical genre or gender. Nina Simone and Joni Mitchell Photographs by Jack Robinson, the Jack Robinson Archive, LLC; www.robinsonarchive.com