When Nina Simone was a child, the lives of African-Americans were burdened with struggle and ordeal. Born into a preacher's family, Nina's musical talent was apparent at an early age in her wonderful piano playing, but her ambitions as a classical pianist were thwarted when she was rejected for a scholarship due to the colour of her skin. She began playing piano and singing in a small club, where her fine deep contralto voice would first capture the public's attention. Record contracts soon followed as Nina developed her own individual style, a blend of elements of jazz, gospel, blues and classical music. In the 1960s, she became active in the civil rights movement, expressing her people's struggle through music. Recipient of 15 Grammy Award nominations, she was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. She passed away aged 70 in 2003.
Nina's daughter Lisa Simone was born in 1962, her early years strongly defined by her mother's constant battles and continuous migration around Europe and Africa. As a form of rebellion, she joined the US Air Force, where she served for 11 years. When stationed in Germany, she spontaneously sang one night with a pianist in a bar. As luck would have it, she was heard by gospel veteran Joan Faulkner, who invited her to join her band as a vocalist. After a performance of one of her mother's greatest hits, My Baby Just Cares for Me, Lisa's fate was sealed: the reception she earned persuaded her to de-enlist and embark on a career as a singer. She appeared on stage with her mother for the first time in 1999. Roles on Broadway soon followed as she carved a name for herself in musical theatre. After Nina's death she released a tribute album, before touring across the world with the Sing the Truth project alongside Dianne Reeves, Angelique Kidjo and Lizz Wright.
In 2014, Lisa released an album entirely of her own material entitled All Is Well. At the opening day of the Jazz Spring festival, the audience will experience every facet of her music, as she pays homage to the work of her legendary mother, sings selections from the All Is Well album, and performs a few songs from the Simone repertoire together with a dedicated Hungarian devotee in the shape of Veronika Harcsa.

Presented by: Palace of Arts