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Nina and Me Tour

{{Short description|2019 concert tour by Ledisi}}

{{Infobox concert

|concert_tour_name = Nina and Me Tour / Ledisi Sings Nina Tour

|image = LedisiNinaandMeTour.jpg

|image_caption = Promotional poster for the tour

|artist = Ledisi

|location = {{flatlist|

  • North America
  • Europe

}}

|album = Ledisi Sings Nina

|start_date = {{Start date|2019|05|10}}

|end_date = {{End date|2023|09|15}}

|number_of_legs = 2

|number_of_shows = 21

|last_tour = Ledisi Live UK Tour
(2019)

|this_tour = Nina and Me Tour
(2019)
Ledisi Sings Nina Tour
(2021–2023)

|next_tour = The Wild Card Tour
(2021)

}}

The Nina and Me Tour was the seventh concert tour by American singer Ledisi. After the release of Ledisi's tenth album Ledisi Sings Nina (2021), the tour was revived as the Ledisi Sings Nina Tour in July 2021. The Ledisi Sings Nina Tour also coincided with The Wild Card Tour (2021). A concert special, Ledisi Live: A Tribute to Nina Simone, aired on PBS on November 28, 2020, featuring the performance recorded at Myron's Jazz Cabaret in the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 1, 2020.

Background

File:Nina Simone 1965 - restoration1.jpg

In 2003, Ledisi recounted first listening to Nina Simone.[https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/20/arts/music/ledisi-nina-simone.html Nina Simone Saved Ledisi's Life. Now She's Paying Tribute on an Album] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607032610/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/20/arts/music/ledisi-nina-simone.html |date=2024-06-07 }}. New York Times. Retrieved on June 15, 2024 After the release of her second album Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue in 2002, she reached a stagnation in her music career.[https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-12-29/salvation-dark-times-ledisi-nina-simone Column: Finding salvation from dark places through Ledisi and Nina Simone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616171400/https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-12-29/salvation-dark-times-ledisi-nina-simone |date=2024-06-16 }}. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on June 15, 2024

{{Blockquote|text=I was on my rocking chair on my porch in East Oakland, and I was depressed. This was after I recorded two albums, but I had bills, just got divorced, hated the area, and felt like I was not growing. So I decided, 'OK. This is the day. I’m going to leave this earth.' [After hearing Nina Simone's "Trouble in Mind"] It jumped me out of my skin. |title=|source=|author=Ledisi on Nina Simone}}

After hearing Nina Simone's cover version of "Trouble in Mind" on the radio, Ledisi repudiated her thoughts of suicide and revived her career. In 2006, she secured a record deal with major label Verve Forecast Records and went on to release a total of seven albums during her duration on the label. In 2017, she incorporated songs from Simone's repertoire into her concert with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO Pops) at the Kennedy Center. In 2018, she headlined a tribute concert to Simone in New Orleans with the drummer Adonis Rose and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. In May 2019, she embarked on the Nina and Me Tour.

Concert synopsis

During the Nina and Me Tour, Ledisi opened the show with "I Put a Spell on You" and often performed "Feeling Good" as an encore. In 2021, she revamped the set list for the tour and retitled it the Ledisi Sings Nina Tour. The set list included her single "Anything for You". Ledisi opened the show with "Feeling Good". Before performing "Trouble in Mind", she recounted how Nina Simone's version of "Trouble in Mind" helped her overcome her experiences with career stagnation, financial issues, and suicidal thoughts.[https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/ledisi-tribute-nina-simone-mann-philadelphia-orchestra-20220723.html Ledisi pays emotional tribute to iconic singer Nina Simone at the Mann]. Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved on June 27, 2024

Critical reception

Shaun Brady of The Inquirer referred to the concert as "a powerful evening, a fitting tribute to a complex and brilliant artist". Brenda C. Siler of The Washington Informer reviewed Ledisi's March 13th performance at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Siler stated, "Ledisi did not attempt to mimic Simone’s unique vocal style. It was an evening where we heard Ledisi’s multi-octave vocal range. From the moment she came on stage, it was clear Ledisi intended to spread joy."[https://www.washingtoninformer.com/ledisisingsnina/ Ledisi Concert Wows with Nina Simone Tribute]. Washington Informer. Retrieved on June 27, 2024

Ledisi: The Legend of Little Girl Blue

{{main|Ledisi: The Legend of Little Girl Blue}}

On December 13, 2019, Ledisi opened her two-week residency show Ledisi: The Legend of Little Girl Blue to Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California.[https://www.theatreinla.com/ledisi-the-legend-of-little-girl-blue/9373/ Ledisi: The Legend of Little Girl Blue at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts]. Theatre in LA. Retrieved on June 27, 2024 The show was written by Ledisi and her husband Ron T. Young. It was directed by Gregg Field and produced by Billy Porter and Suzi Dietz. The residency show ended on December 29, 2019.

Set list

=Nina and Me Tour (2019)=

  1. "I Put a Spell on You"
  2. "I'm Going Back Home"
  3. "Be My Husband"
  4. "Trouble in Mind"
  5. "Four Women"
  6. "Mississippi Goddam"
  7. "Little Girl Blue"
  8. "Take My Hand, Precious Lord"
  9. "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free"
  10. "Ne Me Quitte Pas (Don't Leave Me)"
  11. "All the Way"
  12. "Here Comes the Sun"
  13. "Work Song"
  14. "My Baby Just Cares for Me"
  15. "Wild Is the Wind"

;Encore

  2. "Feeling Good"

=Ledisi Sings Nina Tour (2021)=

  1. "Feeling Good"
  2. "My Baby Just Cares for Me"
  3. "Little Girl Blue"
  4. "Good King Wenceslas"
  5. "Trouble in Mind"
  6. "Do I Move You?"
  7. "Ne Me Quitte Pas (Don't Leave Me)"
  8. "All the Way"
  9. "Here Comes the Sun"
  10. "Work Song"
  11. "Wild Is the Wind"
  12. "Baltimore"
  13. "Shot Down"
  14. "See-Line Woman"
  15. "Anything for You"
  16. "I Put a Spell on You"
  17. "I'm Going Back Home"

=Notes=

  • The set list for Nina and Me Tour was often rearranged for different dates.

Tour dates

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+List of 2019 concerts showing date, city, country, venue and opening acts

! scope="col" style="width:12em;" |Date

! scope="col" style="width:10em;" |City

! scope="col" style="width:10em;" |Country

! scope="col" style="width:17em;" |Venue

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |May 10

|Rodney Bay

|Saint Lucia

|Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |June 7

|St. Louis

|rowspan="2"|United States

|Powell Hall

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |July 12

|Bethesda

|The Music Center at Strathmore

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |August 21

|London

|England

|Royal Albert Hall

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |August 26

|Amsterdam

|Netherlands

|Concertgebouw

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |September 6

|rowspan="2"|Hammond

|rowspan="4"|United States

|rowspan="2"|Horseshoe Casino

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |October 4
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |October 18

|Atlanta

|Atlanta Symphony Hall

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |October 19

|Baltimore

|Lyric Baltimore

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+List of 2021 concerts showing date, city, country, venue and opening acts

! scope="col" style="width:12em;" |Date

! scope="col" style="width:10em;" |City

! scope="col" style="width:10em;" |Country

! scope="col" style="width:17em;" |Venue

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |July 24, 2021

|Los Angeles

|rowspan="12"|United States

|Hollywood Bowl

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |July 30, 2021

|Newport

|Newport Jazz Festival

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |August 17, 2021

|San Diego

|The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+List of 2022 concerts showing date, city, country, venue and opening acts

! scope="col" style="width:12em;" |Date

! scope="col" style="width:10em;" |City

! scope="col" style="width:10em;" |Country

! scope="col" style="width:17em;" |Venue

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |January 12, 2022

|St. Petersburg

|rowspan="6"|United States

|Duke Energy Center

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |January 13, 2022

|West Palm Beach

|Kravis Center

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |January 14, 2022

|Miami

|Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |January 15, 2022

|Tallahassee

|Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |March 13, 2022

|Washington, D.C.

|Kennedy Center

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |July 22, 2022

|Philadelphia

|The Mann Center

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+List of 2023 concerts showing date, city, country, venue and opening acts

! scope="col" style="width:12em;" |Date

! scope="col" style="width:10em;" |City

! scope="col" style="width:10em;" |Country

! scope="col" style="width:17em;" |Venue

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |February 23, 2023

|New York City

|rowspan="3"|United States

|Carnegie Hall

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |September 8, 2023

|San Francisco

|Davies Symphony Hall

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |September 15, 2023

|New York City

|Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival

Personnel

=Nina and Me Tour=

  • New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (May 10, 2019)
  • The L.A.B Trio (July 12, 2019, October 4–19, 2019)
  • Music Director/Piano: Brandon Waddles
  • Bass: Jeremy George
  • Drums: John Davis
  • Metropole Orkest (August 21, 2019 and August 26, 2019)

=Ledisi Sings Nina Tour=

  • San Diego Symphony (August 17, 2021)
  • Philadelphia Orchestra (July 22, 2022)
  • Nashville Symphony (November 6, 2022)
  • Magik*Magik Orchestra (September 9, 2023)

;Note: This list does not include the individual personnel of orchestras or symphonies.

Broadcasts and recordings

{{Infobox album

| italic_title = no

| name = Ledisi: A Night of Nina

| type = live

| longtype = / video

| artist = Ledisi

| cover = LedisiANightofNina.jpg

| border = yes

| released = November 18, 2022

| recorded = February 1, 2020

| venue = Smith Center for the Performing Arts (Los Angeles, California)

| genre = {{flat list|

}}

| length = 55:00

| label = Fig Street Films

| director = Ron T. Young

| producer = {{flat list|

  • Ledisi
  • Ron T. Young
  • Myron Marton
  • Gregg Field
  • Tim Swift
  • Benny Biggs

}}

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

On November 16, 2020, Ledisi announced the concert special Ledisi Live: A Tribute to Nina Simone via her Facebook.[https://www.facebook.com/ledisi/posts/whew-its-finally-here-we-figstreetfilms-were-blessed-to-co-executive-produce-my-/10157871729081482/ My first PBS Special! LEDISI LIVE: A TRIBUTE TO NINA SIMONE]. Facebook. Retrieved on June 27, 2024 Professional footage from the tour aired on American television network PBS on November 28, 2020. The concert special was recorded at Myron's Jazz Cabaret in the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 1, 2020, by Ledisi's film company Fig Street Films.[https://www.ripbs.org/programs/ledisi-live-tribute-nina-simone/ Ledisi Live: A Tribute to Nina Simone]. Rhode Island PBS. Retrieved on June 27, 2024 On November 18, 2022, Ledisi released Ledisi: A Night of Nina which was distributed exclusively through PBS.[https://secure2.convio.net/wnet/site/Ecommerce/1441859642?VIEW_PRODUCT=true&product_id=33060&store_id=4161 Ledisi: A Night of Nina CD]. New Jersey PBS. Retrieved on July 13, 2024[https://www.facethemusic.hu/ledisi/dvd/a-night-of-nina7969858.html Ledisi: A Night of Nina DVD]. Face The Music. Retrieved on July 13, 2024

=Track listing=

{{Track listing

| headline = Ledisi: A Night of Nina

| total_length = 55:00

| title1 = I Wish I Knew What it Would Feel to Be Free

| title2 = Feeling Good

| title3 = I Want a Little Sugar in my Bowl

| title4 = See-Line Woman

| title5 = My Baby Just Cares for Me

| title6 = Ne Me Quitte Pas Wild is the Wind

| title7 = Baltimore

| title8 = Four Women

| title9 = Here Comes the Sun

| title10 = I Put a Spell on You

| title11 = Do I Move You

| title12 = I'm Going Back Home

| title13 = Trouble in Mind

}}

=Personnel=

;Production

  • Executive producers: Ledisi, Ron T. Young, Myron Marton,
  • Producers: Tim Swift, Gregg Field
  • Production manager: Benny Biggs
  • Makeup artist: Terrell Terry Jr
  • Hair stylist: Tony Walker
  • Teleprompter operator: Gigi Koury

;Band

  • Musical director: Brandon Waddles
  • Guitar: Michael Nomad Ripoll
  • Bass: David Parks
  • Drums: Brian Collier
  • Percussion: Ronald Gutierrez
  • Backup vocalists: Keisha Renee Lewis, Shannon Pearson, Sara Williams

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Ledisi}}

Category:2019 concert tours

Category:2021 concert tours

Category:2022 concert tours

Category:2023 concert tours

Category:Concert tours of Europe

Category:Concert tours of the United States

Category:Ledisi concert tours