Pastel Blues

Pastel Blues, recorded and released in 1965, finds Nina Simone blending blues, jazz, vocal jazz and soul across a program that shifts between spare, piano-led ballads and raw, rhythmic performances. Simone's deep, expressive voice and distinctive piano work anchor the record, with arrangements that move from string-accompanied torch songs to percussion-driven takes on spiritual and folk material. The album is notable for its emotional intensity and for the extended, urgent rendition of "Sinnerman", while the title track and other selections underscore Simone's ability to reshape blues and jazz forms into dramatic, personal statements.