Nina At The Village Gate, by Nina Simone (1962)

Mr Pinky recently dug this little gem out of his collection for a listen. When I first got hold of this 1962 live set from Nina’s Colpix years, I only gave it one or two spins before putting it aside.

I don’t know why, but for some reason I pulled it out again recently. Wow! This is such a nice, classy record.

As Nina’s music progressed into the 1970s, she became angrier, her politics tough-as-nails, and her rhythms complex and challenging.

Nina At The Village Gate catches Nina when she was a sophisticated live act and a delicate, thoughtful pianist. She sings quietly and sensitively, making sure her phrasing is carefully balanced. This gives the album a nice intimate feel.

Side one kicks off with Just In Time (lyrics by Comden and Green, by the way), with Simone giving a leisurely piano introduction.

The highlight of side one must be her version of House of the Rising Sun (apparently it inspired The Animals to record it two years later). Nina’s version is a masterpiece of understatement. She makes you think about what she’s singing.

The last track is a superb instrumental, Bye Bye Blackbird. You hear all of Nina’s aspirations to be a classical pianist in this song.

Most of side two is fairly mellow in tone, until the last track, Children Go Where I send You, which is a happy, rousing spiritual.

This, unfortunately, is a lesser known Nina Simone album. If you revere here first album Jazz As Played in an Exclusive Side Street Club, then I think you will be quite taken with Nina At The Village Gate.

Nina really excelled at the live album. She was an awesome performer who could make stand out live records. Miss this one at your own peril.

:)P