Lisa Simone: Keeper of the Flame

Being ‘Keeper of the Flame’ and sharing the heritage of legendary ‘High Priestess of Soul’, Nina Simone, American singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, arranger and civil rights activist is no small feat, even for her only daughter, Lisa. Nina Simone’s music spanned multiple styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and pop.  Beloved and well known for jazz-like singing in her contralto voice, she was strongly influenced by her passion for European classical music which was her original career plan. She is possibly best known for the re-release of the 1930’s jazz standard "My Baby Just Cares for Me". Interestingly, she never benefitted financially from this world-wide hit.

Daughter Dame Lisa Simone owns and celebrates Nina and pays tribute to her mother’s style truthfully and uniquely, in the internationally acclaimed musical and lyrical approach for which Lisa has been recognised on and off Broadway and through her chart-topping albums. Both her voice and arrangements are different, but true to Nina’s style and intention. Notable is the shared capacity to hold a note truly and for an impossibly long time.

Accompanied by a 16-member All-Star Big Band, Lisa played to a full audience who relished this final headliner performance for the much-loved Cabaret Festival. Carefully chosen, the Australian band is heavy on brass and features multiple, well-placed big band style instrument solos. The drumming is a lynch pin and a toe tapping delight in its own right. In fact, this band only includes superb musicians. Lisa never upstages the band, choosing to drift away from the centre stage to let them shine. This is a really confident professional who acknowledges her co-creators of music magic.

As a young adult, Lisa’s relationship with her mother was tumultuous, but in concert, it is clear that she remains a passionate Nina Simone fan who embraces her mother’s influence and unique contribution to music and Nina’s songbook. Lisa is a 10-year US Airforce veteran who served in the gulf war, later moving to her impressive music career, initially as a backing singer, then as a star in shows including Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Miséables.

In concert, Lisa sings her own and her mother’s songs. The audience were spellbound by the rendition of Nina’s song, "You know How I Feel", and Annie Lennox’s "I Put a Spell on You" is indeed, spellbinding. She earned two, two song encores with the audience simply refusing to let her go.

Her message is about holding onto beliefs and dreams, so I will hang on to the hope that we see Lisa Simone back really soon for another great concert.

Jude Hines

Photographer: Claudio Raschella