A voice so profound it could be mistaken for the original cry that birthed the blues, an inner pain transfigured into beauty, offering a timeless poetic form.
Nnenna Freelon's voice is a reflection of life, filled with personal stories, deep emotion, and quiet wisdom. Since her 1992 debut on Columbia, the seven-time Grammy® nominee has used her unique perspective to tell familiar stories—from reimagining Billie Holiday to paying tribute to Stevie Wonder. On Beneath the Skin, she goes the extra step, reaching in to create heart-spoken songs, born from curiosity to more closely visit stories inhabiting her own life. With co-arranger and pianist, Alan Pasqua, Nnenna's created her most personal musical statement to date. Freelon's vocal artistry, rooted in tradition but always forward-thinking, has captivated audiences around the world, and Beneath the Skin is sure to do the same.
"What Freelon is building is not just a castle of love, but an expanded repertoire for jazz singers..." The Washington Post
Track Listing:
1 Journey of the Heart 3:37
2 Dark and Lovely 4:00
3 Black Iris 4:18
4 Changed 5:35
5 Widow Song 4:47
6 Here's Your Hat 5:30
7 Beneath the Skin 3:46
8 Oh! Susanna 7:19
9 These Stories We Hold 4:45
10 Last Dream Home 4:57
All songs composed by Nnenna Freelon
(Chimusic Co., ASCAP)
Co-writers:
(1) Bill O'Connell (O-Connell Music, SESAC)
(3) Alan Pasqua (Itsall Music, BMI)
(8) Traditional
(9) Bill Anschell (Blow Hard Music, BMI)
(10) Andrew Bernison
Performers:
Nnenna Freelon - vocals
Alan Pasqua - piano, keyboards
Keith Ganz - guitar
Jonathan Richards - bass
Steve Hass - drums
Evan Roberson - trombone (2,3,6)
Shana Tucker - cello (1,5)
Production Info:
Produced by Nick Phillips
Recorded May 1-3 & June 8, 2024 by Jason Richmond
at Manifold Recording, Pittsboro, NC
except (7) recorded at Overdub Lane, Durham, NC
Mixed by Jason Richmond
at The River House, Hillsborough, NC
Mastered by Kim Rosen
at Knack Mastering, Ringwood, NJ
Photography by Chris Charles
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Beneath the Skin
THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD (Jim Motavalli)
Singer Nnenna Freelon has long shown she knows her way around the Great American Songbook (she's recorded tributes to Billie holiday and Stevie Wonder), but on her newly released 12th album, Beneath the Skin, the tunes, many of them poignant ballads, are all hers, with several celebrating women in many colors. On this straight-ahead acoustic affair ...
Paris Move (Thierry De Clemensat)
More than just an extraordinary voice, Nnenna Freelon possesses above all a vision of her art, deconstructing the structures of songs to heighten their dramatic essence, as only the greatest artists can. A jazz album, certainly, but one that brushes against the blues and soul with expert wings, carrying emotions through each note with an instrument ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Ringer of the Week! Vocalist Nnenna Freelon has had a career that could easily be divided into two eras. Her early career had her create albums that mixed soul, R&B and smooth jazz in an irresistible fashion. Around 2012, she seemed to have taken a break from recording and touring, and has since returned to the scene with a more reflective, though ...
DownBeat (Herb Boyd)
There's an unrelieved lament to Nnenna Freelon's latest release, and only occasionally do the songs break from a slow, mournful narrative.
The expressive range of Freelon's voice — and its versatility from tune to tune evokes Aminata Moseka (Abbey Lincoln), Nina Simone and Billie Holiday — soars brilliantly on "Changed," but she quickly sett ...
Marlbank (UK) (Stephen Graham)
4-STARS There's a sign in the water.... Great lyrics, burning rhythms, such impact in the vocal it's all there.
Much more preferable to the earlier pre-album release single of US singer Nnenna Freelon‘s from Beneath the Skin which was a little too "trad" for my taste, this latest unveiling from the Cambridge, Massachusetts born jazz vocals ic ...
WDCB, Chicago (Paul Abella)
Nnenna Freelon's latest album, Beneath the Skin, is a concept album about looking within. Of the ten songs here, Freelon co-wrote nine of them. She certainly pulled together an amazing squad to bring these compositions to life, featuring Alan Pasqua on keys, Keith Ganz on guitar, Evan Roberson on trombone, Shana Tucker on cello, Jonathan Richards o ...
