Nnenna Freelon Maiden Voyage CD

MAIDEN VOYAGE was nominated for a 1999 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance.

On MAIDEN VOYAGE, jazz vocalist Freelon tackles an intriguing batch of tunes, all of whose lyrics (and many of whose music) were written by women. Stand outs are "Four Women" by Nina Simone, which provides revealing characterizations of four black women, and "Sepia Wing" - a lyric version of Marian McPartland's "Threnody," with lyrics by Freelon herself. An understanding of the feminine spirit is what Freelon seems to be striving for here. The contemporary jazz arrangements by Michael Abene give a fresh and unified feeling to many different styles and eras of song. As an added surprise, Herbie Hancock himself guests on piano on Freelon's version of his titular composition.

Recorded at Sound On Sound Studios, New York, New York on September 12 & 13 and October 6, 1997. Includes liner notes by Nnenna Freelon and Marian McPartland.

Personnel: Nnenna Freelon (vocals); Joe Beck (guitar); Jesse Levy (cello); Dave Valentin (flute); Bob Mintzer (bass clarinet, soprano saxophone); Dick Oatts (soprano saxophone); Herbie Hancock, Michael Abene (piano); Clarence Penn, Danny Gottlieb (drums); Sammy Figueroa (percussion).

Audio Mixer: Josiah Gluck.

Recording information: Sound on Sound Studios, New York, NY (09/12/1997-10/06/1997).

Photographer: David Aquino.

Personnel: Nnenna Freelon (vocals); Dick Oatts (soprano & tenor saxophones); Bob Mintzer (soprano saxophone, bass clarinet); Ed Neumeister (trombone); Dave Valentin (flute); Jesse Levy (cello); Michael Abene, Herbie Hancock (piano); Joe Beck (guitar); Avishai Cohen, Peter Washington (bass); Danny Gottlieb, Clarence Penn (drums); Sammy Figueroa (percussion)

Producers: Michael Abene, Nnenna Freelon, Gretchen Hoffmann Abene.