"Soul legend," "cool jazz version," hmmm, I'm not so sure, Mike. But that was Nina's brillance: she crossed musical genres and defied the typical 'race record/negro music' categorization of her time. If anything, she was a black folk singer, and she used jazz, blues, and gospel forms as a vehicle. Not surprising at all to me that she would choose to interpret a Hebrew folk song. . .she was just completely on a different level. My favorites: "Four Women" and "Today Is a Killer/My Sweet Lord." (LaBelle did a FIERCE version of 'Four Women,' have you seen it?)

Posted by: B. Brown at April 17, 2008 12:05 AM

I know. It's impossible to define Nina! That's her genius.

Posted by: musto at April 17, 2008 1:00 PM

Thanks for sharing, Michael. Very fun. Cuts right across McLuhan's circular path of cultures detribalizing and retribalizing.

Posted by: nostradavid at April 18, 2008 12:07 AM