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Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

Folly Jazz Series welcomed six-time Grammy Award nominee Nnenna Freelon on Saturday at the Folly Theater. The concert featured songs from her most recent album Homefree (2010).

The evening started with an instrumental number with Brandon McCune (piano), Wayne Batchelor (bass), and Adonis Rose (drums). Freelon stated a number of times how proud she was and how lucky she felt for having found her current band. The trio proved her point with a first-rate opening.

New Orleans native, Adonis Rose shined through the evening. His playing was precise and intricate. More than keeping the beat, he orchestrated the tunes with wide range of colors the set offered.

Following the trio's opening Freelon took the stage with an a cappella introduction to “You and the Night and the Music.” As if casting a melodic spell, she took the audience into her trance as the refined beauty of her voice echoed in the historic venue. Describing the program, Freelon said “[it’s about] feeling at home in your own skin.” She certainly felt so, and welcomed the audience to share in this intimate setting.

Throughout the night Freelon performed jazz standards with little twists in the arrangements and interpretation making them fresh while still preserving the core of tradition. Among them were captivating interpretations of “Nature Boy,” “Very Thought of You,” “Moon River,” and “Get out of Town” along with singer's wonderful take on West Side Story classic “I Feel Pretty” and 1969 hit “My Cherie Amour.” The evening also featured "Stormy Weather" as a tribute to Lena Horne, and the jazz classic "Misty" with a new arrangement by the pianist Brandon McCune.

Freelon has a different way of approaching and handling the songs. Songs are not just melodies that provide her with the material to show off her skill, she does not fill in the spot as an instrument for the melodic lines, nor is she merely an entertainer. She is a storyteller; she recognizes the stories within songs, personalizes them, and identifies with them. As a result, each song reaches the listener with a brand new sound and profound meaning.

Her scats are lively and playful. Unruffled legatos, gliding notes, and smooth melismas distinguish her singing. She has a way of sneaking into the music with achingly controlled crescendos. Her crescendos are like waves forming in the horizon; you see them approaching at a steady pace, but still, are never prepared for the impact when they crash on the shore. Freelon's style blurs the lines between traditional and contemporary approach. She is very much aware of timbre and sonority, and uses the concepts to enhance the musicality of the whole group contributing to the collective sound.

Do not make the mistake of knowing what to expect from her pictures and album covers. She has an unpredictable presence on the stage. Mischievous, quirky, and joyful, she sings with the ease and sincerity of performing at her living room to close friends.

Freelon remarked for the KCMetropolis readers "Coming back to Kansas City is very special. I have a lot of family here; I felt like I was coming home. Kansas City has a lot to be proud of.”

Folly Theater describes Freelon's appearance in the Jazz Series as “long overdue.” Better late than never!

REVIEW:
Folly Jazz Series
Nnenna Freelon
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Folly Theater
300 W 12^th St., Kansas City, MO
For more information, visit http://www.follytheater.com/

Top Photo: Nnenna Freelon

By Nihan Yesil

Classical, New Classical, Jazz, Theatre Contributor
Nihan Yesil is a composer/performance artist and currently a candidate of M.M.Composition at the UMKC Conservatory. She composes both acoustic and electroacoustic music and has a strong interest in experimenting with the perception of sound and language.

Nihan started studying classical music with her father, M. Emin Yesil, at an early age and earned a bachelor's degree in Jazz Composition in Istanbul, Turkey, studying with Lawrence D. "Butch" Morris, Ali Perret, and Aydin Esen. She participated in festivals and artist residencies inclduing the Henry Mancini Institute, Czech-American Summer Music Institute, Brevard Music Festival, Electronic Music Midwest Festival, Women in New Music, Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium, Escape to Create Artist-in-Residence Program and I-Park Artists' Enclave Residency where she also served as a selection committee member for the composition program. Her compositions have been performed at number of venues both in Turkey and the U.S.

Her favorite activity is experiencing or witnessing any form of artistic creativity. Nihan is a big fan of the Internet and keeps several blogs where she presents her unsolicited opinion on different subject matters.