One of my all time favourite recording artists, Meshell Ndegeochello, has paid tribute to Ms. Nina Simone by releasing a new album titled ” Pour une âme souveraine {For a Sovereign Soul}.  This disc is a collaboration with artists such as Sinead O’Connor, Cody Chestnut, Toshi Reagon, among other well-known talent.

This venture will consist of covers and adaptations of Nina’s most famous songs, such as “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” {fantastic cover by Cody Chestnut}, “Four Women” and “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” I’m loving track 8 with Lizz Wright, “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”

Meshell has been one of my favourites from her first album “Plantation Lullabies“, when I was working in the Music industry and she was on Madonna’s Maverick record label, which was owned by the label I worked for.  What I’ve always admired about Meshell, was she never conformed to record industry standards, but always played to her own tune.  She is now with small French indie jazz label, Naive, where I’m sure she’s a whole lot happier.

Meshell will be appearing at The Howard Theatre in Washington, DC, October, 14.  Catch her if you can.

To hear mini samples of the album via Amazon, click here. or listen to longer samples on iTunes.