Love Me or Leave Me - A Tribute to Nina Simone

A musical exploration with interwoven heartfelt stories of the life, loves and passions of the legendary Nina Simone. Artistic Director, Narrator and Vocalist, Christine Manetta tells Nina Simone's story through song, anecdote, and monologue. Focusing on the Jazz and Blues Elements of Simone’s work, originating from Traditional African American Folk Music, which Nina gave her own musical colour too and reimaging the genre of Tribal Jazz that has been inspired by Nina’s works. Christine’s own distinctive style is passionately driven towards political, activist art, as she beautifully portrays Nina Simone’s songs giving them a spin of her own. Filled with sultry tones, she exposes the human spirit. Come and join in the celebration of what would have been Nina Simone’s 90th Birthday.

Featured Musicians
Christine Manetta – Vocals. Christine Manetta has been involved in the music industry for many years, travelling a musical journey through a multitude of genres including Urban Theatre, Jazz, Blues, Pop and Soul with notable appearances at the Docklands Blues Festival, Victorian Festival, Thornbury Theatre, Albury Entertainment Centre and Festivals at Castlemaine, Inverloch, Halls Gap and Port Fairy. As well as being a regular curated guest on mainstream radio, including Guest Presenter on the ABC for Nina Simone Tribute programs. Christine Manetta has also emerged recently as a dynamic Songwriter with four songs from her Album ‘One Woman One Day’ being shortlisted and then also reaching the Top 30 in the 2021 Australian Songwriters Association Contest. With two of Nina Simone’s works also included on the Album.

Ezequiel Balseca – Piano. Balseca was named the 2019 Winner of the Steinway Piano Jazz Competition in Stuttgart and was awarded Third Prize at the Baku International Jazz Competition 2019 in Azerbaijan, having also performed with renowned composer and percussionist Christian Lillinger. As a jazz pianist Balseca has performed regularly in Spain, Germany, Poland and Ecuador over the last several years.

James Lockwood - Upright Bassist and Contrabass Guitarist, specialising in Bebop and Jazz from the 1940’s and 50’s. Honours graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, having studied under many of Australia’s premier musicians. Lockwood performs in a variety of settings and idioms around Victoria, in addition to leading his own ensemble, ‘The JL Trio’, which performs the music of Bud Powell, Barry Harris, and other seminal Bebop composers.

Alex Bull - Drummer/Percussionist. A graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium (Bachelor of Music Performance including Classical Percussion.) In 2022 Bull premiered one of 67 new works by Australian composers at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) Set Festival and in 2017, had the great honour to be involved in a percussion coarse at ANAM, where he worked with American percussion greats, Jan Williams, William Winant and Steve Schick.

Experience a musical journey from Tribal Gospel Beginnings and Cabaret Jazz to Activist Anthems and 60’s Flower Power Hippie Songs. Including songs such as I Put a Spell on You, Feelin Good, Sinnerman, See-Line Woman, Ain’t Got No-I Got Life and My Baby Just Cares for Me.

"A fabulous show and I highly recommend you check it out “- Barry Maxwell–99.3 3NRG FM

"Great Voice" Radio KLFM

https://www.christinemanetta.com/ninasimonestory