Songs for the Soul

Mallarmé Chamber Players, Nnenna Freelon

Catalog #: TROY1190
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Format: Digital
Chamber

Mallarmé Chamber Players, the distinguished ensemble based in Durham, North Carolina presents a program of chamber music by African American composers. Spanning several generations of composers, the recording includes works by Undine Smith Moore (1904-1989); Thomas Jefferson Anderson (b. 1928); William Banfield (b. 1961) and Anthony Kelley (b. 1965). Six-time Grammy Award-nominee Nnenna Freelon joins Mallarmé to perform Soul Gone Home by William Banfield, which, along with Grist for the Mill by Anthony Kelley, was commissioned by the ensemble. You can go to this link to hear a fascinating interview done by WUNC Radio in Chapel Hill with Nnenna Freelon, William Banfield and representatives from the Mallarmé Chamber Players and Videmus Records, who produced the recording.

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Track Listing

Title Composer Performer
Afro-American Suite Undine Smith Moore Mallarmé Chamber Players
Spirit Songs Thomas Jefferson Anderson Mallarmé Chamber Players
Soul Gone Home William Banfield Nnenna Freelon, vocalist, Mallarmé Chamber Players, William Banfield, conductor
Grist for the Mill Anthony Kelley Mallarmé Chamber Players

Reviews

  • "Kudos to all the composers and performers on this disc...This disc is a terrific introduction to some composers who may not be familiar and whose music, uniformly, is reflective of their culture and personal history but which stands very favorably on its own as any good piece of music should."

    – Audiophile Audition

  • "Nnenna Freelon is as good as perfect, hitting precisely the right point between 'classical' performance and jazz, slipping into speech effectively when asked. ...Soul Goes Home is well worth going out of your way to hear."

    – Fanfare

*Album cover provided for Editorial use only. ©Albany Records. The Albany Imprint is a registered trademark of PARMA Recordings LLC. The views and opinions expressed in this media are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.