RELEASE OF THE NINA SIMONE 1968 DOUBLE LP FROM THE MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL

Recorded live on 16 June 1968 at the Montreux Casino during the second edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival, this unusually intense concert by Nina Simone is one of the most famous live performances by the American artist and activist. This recording had never been released officially, and it is finally receiving the attention worth of its exceptional quality..

“With an athletic silhouette, an immaculate African dress, a stern face and authoritative gestures, Nina Simone first graced the stage at the Montreux Jazz Festival one evening in June, 1968. A nervous Claude Nobs looked on from the wings as the “High Priestess of Soul” took her place behind the keyboard, facing a fascinated audience. He had to pinch himself. His event was barely into its second edition and yet it was hosting this mesmerizing voice, this major pianist, the author of an unprecedented synthesis of jazz, pop, classical, and Broadway. It was Claude Nobs’ considered opinion that her very first appearance in Montreux counted among the foundations on which the Festival’s history was built.”

David Brun-Lambert

The landmark item in our boutique this year, this double LP co-produced by the RTS is the second work from our vinyl record collection THE ESSENTIALS, which aligns the greatest live performances to have set the Montreux Jazz Festival stages alight since 1967. The timing is perfect, with the documentary What Happened, Miss Simone? coming out on Netflix last week, featuring two other live performances by Nina at Montreux from 1976. Not to mention the release on 10 July of the tribute album Nina Revisited: A Tribute to Nina Simone with incredible covers by artists like Lauryn Hill, Gregory Porter and Mary J.Blige.

Nina Simone 1968 (recorded live at Montreux Jazz Festival)

Nina Simone: piano & vocals

Buck Clarke: drums

Henry Young: guitar

Gene Taylor: double bass

Tracks:

SIDE A

1 Go To Hell

2 Just in Time

3 When I was a Young Girl

4 Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

SIDE B

5 Ne Me Quitte Pas

6 To Love Somebody

7 Backlash Blues

8 The House of The Rising Sun

SIDE C

9 Sea Lion Woman

10 Please Read Me

11  Ain't Got No/I Got Life

SIDE D

12 Gin House Blues

13 I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free

Recorded live on 16 June 1968

Double LP, 78 minutes

180 grams, remastered sound

Limited edition of 1'000

Mini poster inside

Co-Produced by Montreux Jazz Festival and Radio Télévision Suisse