Better Than Anything CD

MUSIC

JAZZ

Song Listing

Disc 1

Song Title

1. Better Than Anything ~ Nnenna Freelon

2. I Won't Dance ~ Nnenna Freelon

3. Straighten Up and Fly Right ~ Nnenna Freelon

4. Nature Boy ~ Nnenna Freelon

5. Them There Eyes ~ Nnenna Freelon

6. I Say A Little Prayer ~ Nnenna Freelon

7. Body and Soul [Live] ~ Nnenna Freelon

8. Button Up Your Overcoat ~ Nnenna Freelon

9. Tears Of A Clown, The - (Live) ~ Nnenna Freelon

10. Ooh Child ~ Nnenna Freelon

11. One Child At A Time ~ Nnenna Freelon

12. Balm In Gilead ~ Nnenna Freelon

Album Notes and Credits

Notes & Personnel Info
	Personnel: Nnenna Freelon (vocals); Sounds of Blackness, Take 6 (vocals, background vocals); Scott Sawyer, James Harrah, Julian Lage (guitar); Jessica Ivry (cello); Dave Valentin (flute); Gerald Albright (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Dick Oatts, Kirk Whalum (tenor saxophone); Matt Shulman (trumpet); Ed Neumeister (trombone); Takana Miyamoto (piano, electric piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Tim Heintz (piano, organ, keyboards); Brandon McCune (piano, organ); Michael Abene, Bill Anschell (piano); Wayne Batchelor (acoustic bass); Clarence Penn, Woody Williams, Ricky Lawson (drums); Luis Conte, Sammy Figueroa, Beverly Botsford (percussion).
	Liner Note Author: Don Mizell.
	Recording information: 02/1996-04/2005.
	Photographer: Randee Saint Nicholas.
	Arrangers: Nnenna Freelon; Brandon McCune.
	Nnenna Freelon has recorded for the Concord label since 1996. Better Than Anything has some of the high points from her first nine years with the company, drawing its dozen selections from six previously released CDs. Freelon had developed into an individual voice and a subtle improviser before she hooked up with Concord but she has grown in depth ever since, being increasingly willing to take chances and stretch herself into other idioms while staying true to her jazz vision. On Better Than Anything, seven of the dozen selections are jazz standards, with "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Balm in Gilead" being among the exceptions. But even such tunes as "Them There Eyes" (taken from a project that had modernized versions of Billie Holiday-associated songs) and "Body and Soul" sound different than expected. The most joyful performance is "Straighten Up and Fly Right," which teams Freelon with Take 6. They should record a full-length project someday. Better Than Anything is an excellent all-round sampler, although Nnenna Freelon's best fans will prefer to obtain her original CDs individually. ~ Scott Yanow
Producer: Michael Abene; Gretchen Hoffman Abene (Compilation); Don Mizell (Compilation)

Compilation Appearances

	N Coded Music Jazz Party Boxset
	Jazz Vocalists: Hear & Now

Associated Artists and Works

Blanchard, Terence

Technical Info

	Release Date : 01/22/2008
	Original Release Date : 2008
	Catalog ID : 30514
	Label : Concord
	Number of Discs : 1
	Studio/Live : Mixed
	Mono/Stereo : Stereo
	SPAR Code : n/a
	UPC : 00888072305144

Professional Reviews

Record Collector (magazine)
(p.98)
- 3 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t offers a vivid snapshot of the singer's vibrant, soulful style..."

BloomReach Content

Better Than Anything (2008)

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