Drea d’Nur and Rootstock Republic

A delicate twist on the familiar notion of a tribute show, “Dear Nina: A Sonic Love Letter to Nina Simone” is a love ode that commits to honoring the wisdom, truths and stories embedded in Nina Simone’s legacy—musically, socially, and politically. Featuring: Drea d’Nur, Juliette Jones, Jarvis Benson, Monique Brooks Roberts, Chris “BassPlayaPlaya” Johnson, Malcolm Parson and Riza Printup.

“Dear Nina: A Sonic Love Letter to Nina Simone” Ensemble

“Dear Nina: A Sonic Love Letter to Nina Simone” was originally commissioned by The Albright-Knox Art Gallery (Buffalo, NY) in affiliation with their “We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women 1965-1985” exhibit (March 2018/International Women’s Day—World Premiere). Later that same month, “Dear Nina” premiered in NYC to a sold-out audience at The Public Theatre’s Joe’s Pub. In the 2019 season, “Dear Nina” was met with high praise and back-to-back sold-out audiences: The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture’s Women’s Jazz Festival, (March 2019), the 1st annual “Singing Nina Festival” (May 2019—Headliner), Rootstock Republic’s new acoustic, seasonal salon series ’HOME,’ with the support of NewMusicUSA (June 2019), and the Niagara Fall Underground Railroad Heritage Center’s “400 Years of Resistance” (October 2019).

“Power, poise and passion reign supreme in this pairing of voice and strings that celebrates the legendary—and at times uncharted—canon of Nina Simone. Drea D’Nur (Vocalist, Pianist) and House of Rootstock (Strings, Arrangements) share center stage in this uniquely intimate and newly orchestrated songbook of Nina’s Love Songs, Blues and Protest Music.” Reviews: “The audience was spellbound by the vocals and arrangements. Nina Simone’s fire and tenderness were on full display.” — The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture “The music is characterized by sweeping chamber style arrangements whereby the audience is swept up into the beauty of orchestral strings.” — JazzBuffalo