The Best of Nina Simone

Nina Simone’s essential recordings for Verve Reissues distill decades of jazz, soul, and classical influences into a definitive entry point. Her contralto voice cuts through arrangements spanning from intimate ballads to orchestral sweeps, while her piano work—rooted in classical training but deployed with blues sensibility—anchors standards, originals, and protest songs alike. This collection captures the full scope of her artistry: the sultry sophistication of “Feeling Good,” the raw vulnerability of her interpretations, and the political urgency that made her a civil rights icon. A foundational document of American music.