Révéler's first show of the year celebrates the timeless soul jazz poetry of Nina Simone interpreted by RVA's own powerhouse vocalist and bandleader Samantha Reed.
Innocence meets “battle hardened realism, strength and vulnerability.” Samantha Reed sings the music and tells the story of Nina Simone. Accompanied by Calvin Brown on piano with his interpretation of this body of work from the classically trained pianist, as well as Steven Boone on guitar, Josh Hawkins on drums, and Carroll Ellis on bass.
Eunice Kathleen Waymon, known professionally as Nina Simone, was an American singer, songwriter, musical arranger, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned a broad range of styles, including classical, jazz, folk, R&B, gospel, and pop. Nina referred to her music as Black Classical Music. She was one of the most extraordinary artists of the twentieth century, an icon of American music. She was the consummate musical storyteller, a griot as she would come to learn, who used her remarkable talent to create a legacy of liberation, empowerment, passion, and love through a magnificent body of works. She earned the moniker ‘High Priestess of Soul’ for she could weave a spell so seductive and hypnotic that the listener lost track of time and space as they became absorbed in the moment. When Nina Simone died on April 21, 2003, she left a timeless treasure trove of musical magic spanning over four decades from her first hit, the 1959 Top 10 classic “I Loves You Porgy,” to “A Single Woman,” the title cut from her one and only 1993 Elektra album. While thirty-three years separate those recordings, the element of honest emotion is the glue that binds the two together – it is that approach to every piece of work that became Nina’s uncompromising musical trademark.
Sam Reed’s soulful, honest voice has settled well into genres such as r&b, rock, gospel, jazz, funk, and hip hop over the years. This versatility comes naturally but also spawns from a love of the history and stories of women who have offered so much to the music industry like Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Sharon Jones, and Betty Davis. Sam makes it a point to carefully curate shows to keep the stories of women alive. It is in keeping with this duty that Sam Reed tells her own stories through song. Her album This Is Love produced by DJ Harrison continues to resonate as she builds her catalogue of uplifting, soothing, healing, loving, but also in your face and funky, sounds. Sam Reed is often recognized as the lead vocalist of Dance Candy, No BS! Brass and RVA classics the Photosynthesizers, as well background vocalist with music festival favorites Keller Williams Grateful Gospel
SHOW NOTES
Admission: $20
Pre-show specials: 5pm - 7pm
Doors: 6:30pm
Music: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
21+ / 16+ must be accompanied by an adult
Reserved seating.
Tickets:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reveler/1977374
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