Let It Be Me

AMG Review of Let It Be Me

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Due to the brevity of this live set (just 33 minutes) and the spoken introductions (which are mostly in French while Nina Simone sings in English), Let It Be Me will only be interest to the singer/pianist's biggest fans. There are some intriguing moments along the way on what is mostly a solo set. Flutist Hannibal helps out on "See Line Woman" and harmonizes vocally with Simone on "Let It Be Me" (he displays a semi-operatic voice), while bassist Tony Armstrong and drummer Lucky Wedgestone are just in the background of a few numbers. Much of the music is call and response, sometimes with the audience helping out. Most interesting are "Ain't Got No/I Got Life" (which is from the show Hair), "Let It Be Me," and the umpteenth version of "Mississippi Goddam."