Beneath the Skin

It's hard to believe that Nnenna Freelon turns 71 later in July. Yet, the singer, songwriter, playwright, actress, and podcaster has had a busy career that spans four decades. She did not begin recording until her early 30s. Signing to Columbia Records, her self-titled debut album introduced the world to a self-assured vocalist working her way through the Great American Songbook. After three albums, she moved to Concord Records where she recorded an album of songs by female composers, "Maiden Voyage", an album dedicated to the songs of Stevie Wonder, "Tales of Wonder", and one celebrating the 90th Birthday of Billie Holiday, "Blueprint of a Lady: Sketches of Billie Holiday". Her seventh and final recording for the label, "Homefree", was released in 2010 and included a funky take of "Life Every Voice and Sing" as well as a fascinating take of "America the Beautiful."

In 2021, Ms. Freelon signed with Origin Records and released her first album in 12 years. Not to say she wasn't busy as an artist, just not so much in the public eye. "Time Travel" was a welcome return, soulful, playful, much in the style of her previous albums, and with a majority of standards. In March of this year, "Beneath the Skin" was issued, and this time, it's personal. All but one of the songs is an original, the album was recorded close to her North Carolina home, and she's fronting a crackerjack quartet of musicians. Pianist Alan Pasqua arranged or co-arranged eight of the 10 songs, the acoustic guitar work of Keith Ganz is a prominent voice in the songs, and the rhythm section of Jonathan Richards (bass) and Steve Hass (drums) is responsive and creative. Best of all, Ms. Freelon's voice is alive with joy and possibility. One can sense her elegant stage presence. "Dark and Lovely" is introduced by her three "grandgirls" before becoming a barrelhouse blues bouncing along and featuring "blowsy" trombone from Evan Roberson. He's back on the next tune, "Black Iris", in more of a Jack Teagarden style. The song celebrates a woman in the fullness of her being. Watch the band perform the song below.

Pianist Pasqua sets up "Changed" with McCoy Tyner-influenced chords while the bass and drums play forcefully. The lyrics deal with the realization of how the ups and downs of one's life make them who they are. The piano is fiery, just what the song calls for. Ms. Freelon's voice is impassioned and impressive.

"Widow Song" is a country blues tune that pairs the vocalist with Ganz's expressive electric guitar. One of the reasons that the singer has not recorded for the bulk of the 2010s was that her husband, Jack Freelon (a noted Black architect and the "architect-of-record" for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture), suffered from ALS before passing in 2019. Yet, the song is not mournful as the singer knows that life is filled with joy and sadness but needs to know if she is to be chained by grief.

The one non-original is Stephen Foster's "Oh! Susanna". Taken ever-so-slowly and quietly, Ms. Freelon caresses the words, adds wordless phrases, all the while, the musicians are flowing in and around her voice.

The album closes with "Last Dream Home". Ms. Freelon's lyrics, written to the music of North Carolina-based pianist Andrew Bernison, speak to her husband's death. The music, the lyrics, and the performance are so eloquent, speaking to how memories keep someone alive and knowing, believing, she will be reunited with the one she loves. The song also includes a powerful acoustic guitar solo that echoes the power in the vocal.

"Beneath the Skin" is an album that contains multitudes, from brilliant singing, powerful as well as fun songs, excellent musicianship, and an honesty that reaches into one's soul. It's time for me to go back to dig into Nnenna Freelon's body of work to hear what I've been missing. Whether you are a long-time listener or just coming to her music, this is wonder-filled music!