Nina Simone: Live

Jazz singers mean a lot of things to a lot of people – Nina Simone specifically. As much as bop and free jazz would propel a black political consciousness, jazz singers had just as much to do with cultural ideas being set forth.

Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” is probably the most well known vocal comment on race relations in the jazz idiom. And while Holiday is and shall always be considered a remarkable figure in not just the genre, but American music, most of Simone’s career revolved around relating to the world outside of her own social sphere.

Of course, being a performer necessitated the singer to interact with white folks she probably wouldn’t have had to deal with otherwise, but her professional negotiations as much as her musical work went a long way towards explaining what she was all about.

Simone’s entire discography is littered with songs that have some sort of broad social message – covers and originals alike. What’s more, though, is the litany of live stuff she released over time that sported these songs being related to an audience - one that should be figured to be integrated.

On ‘Nuff Said, Simone goes all in on eleven songs. A few of the offerings don’t have any overt social implications while a couple of tracks are made of blatant commentary. “The Backlash Blues” with its funky backing and bass heavy piano figure finds the singer discussing worries that black folks had at the time and still do. It’s interesting, though, that the first few troublesome issues she addresses were no doubt affecting white folks at the time. Simone mentions taxes, low wages and kids getting sent to Vietnam before making it into race relations and the like. The song might not be rendered in flawless terms, but the effort possesses enough bravado as to make it an album highlight.

There’s some pretty spotty stuff here even as nothing really falls apart. “Please Read Me” comes off as nothing less than shaky before Simone gets into “Gin House Blues” and its rollicking rhythm.

Arguably the center piece of the ‘Nuff Said is “Why? (The King of Love is Dead).” During the song’s introduction Simone says, “You know that this program is dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King.” And so it is. The song details the highs and lows of King’s life. It’s enough to choke up even the most casual listener. And if it’s not, Simone probably feels enough emotion for everyone that’s ever had the chance to hear the track.

Released just about a decade into the singer’s career, she still had almost another twenty years of regular recording ahead of her. But it arrived in the middle of a briskly creative period in the pianist and singer’s life. There would soon be even more politically motivated work during the ensuing years, but 1968 was a watershed year for a variety of reasons – both politically and musically.

‘Nuff Said might not be an indispensible disc, but there’re enough songs and more than enough thoughtfulness inserted into these tunes as to make it an thoroughly enjoyable listen.