Finally, after releasing two exlusive Japanese-only albums, it looks like the people responsible for Nina Vidal's distribution have gotten their acts together and are releasing her material worldwide. The talented jazz/soul vocalist and pianist released her stunning self-titled debut back in 2008 with very little promotion in her native USA, however the album hit #1 in Japan where she has become somewhat of national treasure amongst jazz fans. Her follow up, 2010's The Open-Ended Fantasy, again hit the top spot on Japan's jazz chart and was scheduled for a US/worlwide release in early 2011, but that failed to materialize.
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Not one to rest on her laurels and eager to please her Japanese following, Nina has now recorded her third album, a collection of covers from the '60s, '70s, and '80s entitled Love, Pop & Soul - The Cover Sessions Vol.1. Not surprisingly this album also hit #1 on Japan's jazz chart, giving Nina five albums currently in the top 200, an unprecedented feat. It looks like both The Open-Ended Fantasy and Love, Pop & Soul will finally be available in the US (and the rest of the world) this September, initially as digital-only albums but with a plan for a physical release a month later.
To celebrate, we have a sneak peek at tracks from both albums, first up is Nina's cover of The Isley Brothers' "For the Love of You" (from Love, Pop & Soul) and "Inside Outside" (from TOEF). On "For the Love of You" Nina takes one of my favourite Isley songs, and one of my favorite slow-jams full stop, and transforms it into a much jazzier, piano-led love song. If you are going to cover a classic, this is how it's done. "Inside Outside" revisits Nina's debut with a very smooth, laid-back jazz groove guaranteed to relax and unwind. In addition to The Isley Brothers cover, Love, Pop & Soul will feature covers of Soft Cell's "Tainted Love," Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," and James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight."
Nina Vidal: "For the Love of You"
Nina Vidal: "Inside Outside"
