June 1965, London
Nina Simone is performing for the first time in London at an intimate jazz club, Annie’s Room in Soho, owned by jazz singer Annie Ross, known as part of the trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. Even though I’m her UK fan club president, I’m underage. I can only go if my father comes too and Nina’s husband/manager Andy arranges for my Dad Mark and my uncle Herbert (one of my mother’s brothers) to accompany me to the venue! What a night. My Dad and uncle are proper dressed up for the occasion – in England 1965 we would say they looked like a couple of ‘toffs’ and nowadays we’d say they looked ‘fly’! I was totally mezmerized by Nina at the piano with her trio, loving every minute of the show. Afterwards Andy made sure my Dad and uncle met Nina and I was overjoyed. An unforgettable night for this 17 year old!
This clip is from the Antibes Jazz Festival in France at which Nina performs shortly after leaving London…
