Customer Reviews

Soulcall

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

WOW~ it was worth the wait! Nnenna's new CD has it all at its beck and Soulcall. The cover artwork is mesmerizing and her voice is so big and beautiful. She sounds better than ever and her band shines throughout (especially on the trio version of "Amazing Grace"). My favorites are the Ella-esque leadoff track "Better Than Anything", the sultry "Let It Be Me" (featuring Kirk Whalum on sax) and the uplifting ballad "One Child At A Time" with background vocals by Sounds of Blackness. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, Take 6 join Nnenna on an amazing acappella version of Nat King Cole's "Straighten Up and Fly Right". If you enjoy Jazz, Gospel or just a wonderful soulful singer, Soulcall is spellbinding! In fact, I venture to wager that there will be a lot of newborns named Nnenna in the years to come.

I just picked up this cd, and I love it. I noticed that she's nominated for two Grammys (including Best Jazz Vocal), and will also be performing on the show (Wed. Feb. 21st). I hope she wins, considering this is my favorite album of the year!

i was enlightened to see and hear this gal on a morning show many years ago....i bought the cd quickly thereafter & am still enjoying it to this day....i was reminded of this cd in my collection in a local store..they were playing some of her original works.

Well! Where do we begin? I wish I knew how to say "this CD is absolutely splendid" in 387 different languages, not excluding Tagalog, Urdu, Welsh, Sanskrit, Esperanto and Old Church Slavonic.

Was listening to WGBH radio here in Boston about three weeks ago when "Better than Anything" came on, and I stopped and thought WHO IS THIS? Awesome song. And then, the performance of "Straighten Up" on the Grammys with Take 6: I've been cool-down-poppa-ing ever since!

Can't think of the exact words to describe the enticing slyness of the vocal delivery in the old standard "Button Up Your Overcoat", but suffice it to say it has to be heard to be believed.

There is the urgent sincerity of "One Child at a Time," and there are two versions of "Amazing Grace" (the trio version excels). "I Say a Little Prayer for You" -- one of the best tracks on this compact disc.

In the liner notes, Nnenna Freelon tells us that she finds "the same spiritual power" in songs intended for praise of God and "in certain songs not necessarily written for praise purposes." Furthermore, "all good things come from the same source." Well, praise to that Source for inspiring Nnenna to sing these songs and to sing them the way she does.

This is my first Nnenna Freelon CD, and I fear I did not choose wisely. Her voice is beautiful, warm, enticing, but I do not like many of the songs she chose for the album, and when I do like the song, I find the arrangement, backup vocals, and odd R&B/gospel touches annoying. It's not worth it to me to cringe through "One Child at a Time" to get to "Nearer My God to Thee". Your mileage may vary, but the tracks on this album are too far from the lounge and too close to the easy listening station for my taste.

NNenna Freelon has been one of artists that I have listened more on last times. this CD has great moments like: "Let it be me", whose words & music are contagiant.
I think NNENNA has a brilliant future; she's one of the best singers that I ever heard, beside Dionne Warwick, Anita Baker, Lisa Stansfield and Oleta Adams.

It is a must have! Nnenna Freelon is da bomb! This album is superb from start to finish. Your CD collection won't be complete without it.