Usually I'm not a friend of cover versions and I'd rather hear original songs. But if you're not doing the umpteenth jazz standards cover album, dedicate a whole album to one artist and you're Nnenna Freelon, I'm willing to make the proverbial exception to the rule.
With her 7^th album in 10 years Nnenna decided to do an album with just covers of her favourite Stevie Wonder songs. "From 'Superstition' with its surprisingly deep lyric to 'Send One Your Love,' a celebration of pure romance, these songs take us back and lead us forward at the same time. Stevie Wonder¹s music has been alive in me since I can remember and has accompanied my joys and heartache. These songs fill me to the brim and as I sing them now, my cup runneth over." says Nnenna. I really can't argue with that, because she doesn't choose the most obvious songs. Ok, we get some often covered songs like Another Star, Until You Come Back To Me, Superstition or My Cherie Amour. But then there are also Nnenna's versions of Overjoyed, Creepin', Black Orchid or Send One Your Love.
Recorded with various musicans like Gerry Niewood (flute & saxophone), Brandon McCune (Piano, organ, Fender Rhodes), Dave Samuels (vibes) or Gerald Veasley (bass), which produces a more organic, handmade background, Nnenna succeeds in making Stevie's song her own very well. Done in a more jazzy way Tales Of Wonder is another proof of first her artistry as singer and second of what a great songwriter Stevie is.
Hard to pick out a favourite since all songs are good but I especially like Another Star, Creepin', Black Orchid and All In Love Is Fair. All in all a very good album and it leaves the question: Do we really need new songs if a singer is capable of turning covers into such pleasant album?