Beneath the Skin

Nnenna Freelon's folk-infused Beneath the Skin (Origin) is a deeply autobiographical work, rooted in grief and transformation. The album addresses three profound personal losses: her late husband, renowned architect Phil Freelon; her sister, Debbie; and the family dog, Basie. Acclaimed as a gifted jazz interpreter, Freelon shows herself here as a powerful songwriter and storyteller, channeling grief into a body of work that is both raw ("Widow Song") and redemptive ("Dark and Lovely", written for her granddaughters). These themes are further explored in her companion book, Beneath the Skin of Sorrow: Improvisations on Loss (Duke University Press), expanding the project into a multi-dimensional portrait of heartbreak and healing.