Nnenna Freelon

In 1990, Nnenna Freelon went to the Southern Arts Federation jazz meeting and met Ellis Marsalis.
“It was a big breakthrough. At that time I had been singing for seven years.

Ellis is an educator and wanted to nurture and help. What I didn’t know at the time was that George Butler of Columbia Records was looking for a female singer.

Ellis asked me for a package of materials. I had my little local press kit and my cassette tape with original music. Two years later, I was signed by Columbia Records.”

She was almost 30 years old when she released her debut CD, Nnenna Freelon, for Columbia in 1992. The label dropped her in 1994 and Concord Records signed her in 1996.[3]

He has worked with Ray Charles, Ellis Marsalis, Al Jarreau, Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, Dianne Reeves, Diana Krall, Ramsey Lewis, George Benson, Clark Terry, Herbie Hancock, and Terence Blanchard.

She has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, the Ellington Jazz Festival, the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Apollo Theater, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.