Progressive Friends: Jazz Standards

I've had to break this up a lot as I'm making these posts because Jazz is such a general term. These are some of the standards which we all pretty much know, sang by legends. Where the post before it is more original and pure. This is just more pop than Jazz in my mind.

Nina Simone - Mr. Bojangles
Ahhh... Nina Fucking Simone, "The Priestess of Soul." This is my favorite version of this song. Nina is a fucking America Queen in my book. First black woman to go to Juliard. She is an artist I actually took the time to kinda get to know more about. She probably is the person who really elevated me into a connoisseur.

She showed me what a music was really about. It's not about melody, it's not about the performer, and it's not about the money. Nina Simone taught me that Music is how we get in touch with our soul. It's a vehicle for that part that makes us who we are, what makes us living creatures. It IS the definition, and science is only starting to understand the question. In personal relationships I've only told 2 guys I've ever loved them, out of maybe 15. I love Nina Simone.

Ella Fitzgerald - Hard Hearted Hanna
I'm actually not a huge fan of Ella (blasphemy?), but this is like a great style of jazz that I can't get enough of. I can go into detail why I don't really like her if you ask. It's just not something I'm going to offer up, if no one is interested though.