Abbey Lincoln: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Abbey Lincoln moved from supper-club glamour to the front line of the jazz avant-garde, then to a late career as one of jazz's great singer-songwriters. This mix traces the blues lineage she inherited, the Black freedom movement and African drum traditions that reshaped her voice, the partners who built We Insist! with her, and the singers who followed her into writing their own songs.

The Kynda mix for Abbey Lincoln

• Key Influence · Lady in Satin by Billie Holiday (1958). Lincoln's touchstone was Holiday's refusal to sing a lyric she didn't mean. Early in her career she was marketed as a glamorous song stylist, and critics heard Holiday in her phrasing; Lincoln later spoke of Holiday as the model for making a standard a personal testimony. Lady in Satin, cut with a ravaged voice and total interpretive authority, is the extreme case of that ethic, and it maps directly onto Lincoln's weathered, conversational late recordings.
• Influencia Obscura · Drums of Passion by Babatunde Olatunji (1960). The Nigerian drummer was part of the circle around Max Roach and Lincoln as the Freedom Now Suite took shape, and African percussion is literally built into its final movements, where Lincoln sings over talking drums rather than a rhythm section. Drums of Passion, recorded the same year, was the album that put Yoruba drumming into American jazz consciousness and underwrote Lincoln's turn toward Africa as a living source rather than a decorative motif.
• Local Roots · Finally by Betty Carter (1969). Carter, raised in Detroit as Lincoln was raised in nearby Calvin Center, Michigan, pursued the same unfashionable path: refusing pop compromise, running her own dates, bending standards past recognition, eventually releasing records on her own terms. Both were singers the industry found difficult and the musicians found indispensable. Finally captures Carter live and uncompromising, the Michigan-bred independence that parallels Lincoln's own.
• Beyond the Medium · A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (1959). Lincoln's shift from nightclub glamour to Black consciousness happened inside the same late-fifties New York world that made Hansberry's play a landmark, and Lincoln herself crossed into acting soon after, starring in Nothing But a Man and For Love of Ivy. Hansberry's method — ordinary Black domestic speech made into high drama — is precisely what Lincoln began doing with lyrics, treating a song as a scene with a character speaking.
• Peer · Nina Simone in Concert by Nina Simone (1964). Simone and Lincoln were the two singers who most visibly fused jazz performance with civil rights militancy in the early sixties, and both paid professionally for it with lost bookings and hostile critics. This is the album carrying 'Mississippi Goddam,' Simone's equivalent of Lincoln's wordless scream on 'Triptych': the moment the entertainer's mask comes off onstage and the audience is addressed directly as citizens.
• From the Canon · Straight Ahead by Abbey Lincoln (1961). Cut for Candid with Coleman Hawkins, Eric Dolphy, Booker Little, Mal Waldron and Max Roach, this is the album where Lincoln's transformation completes: the title track and 'Retribution' put her political voice in a hard-bop setting. Ira Gitler's notorious 'professional Negro' review of it in DownBeat triggered a magazine-wide debate on race and jazz criticism, and effectively cost Lincoln years of recording work.
• Key Collaborator · We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite by Max Roach (1960). The central collaboration of Lincoln's life: she was Roach's musical partner and, from 1962 to 1970, his wife. She sings the entire suite, including the celebrated wordless 'Triptych: Prayer/Protest/Peace,' a scream recorded as music. Conceived for the Emancipation Proclamation centennial with lyrics by Oscar Brown Jr. and Coleman Hawkins on tenor, it remains the defining statement of jazz as civil rights testimony.
• Legacy · Blue Light 'Til Dawn by Cassandra Wilson (1993). Wilson has repeatedly named Lincoln among the singers who showed her a jazz vocalist could write her own songs, sing low and unornamented, and build a sound world rather than interpret a songbook. Blue Light 'Til Dawn, with its acoustic guitars, hand percussion and blues-to-Delta repertoire, extends Lincoln's late-period model of the singer as author and sonic designer into the following generation.

What influenced Abbey Lincoln

• Max Roach. Whitehead states Max Roach helped shape Abbey Lincoln's artistic voice. (also via Straight Ahead) “Part of this album's story is how it and Max Roach helped Abbey Lincoln find her own voice as a socially aware singer and songwriter.” (Fresh Air (NPR/WHYY))
• Billie Holiday (1915). The article explicitly identifies Holiday as an influence on Lincoln. (also via Lady in Satin) “Lincoln was one of many singers influenced by Billie Holiday .” (Wikipedia)
• Lady in Satin by Billie Holiday. Lady in Satin (Billie Holiday) — titan for Abbey Lincoln “== Career == === Music === Lincoln was one of many singers influenced by Billie Holiday.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Drums of Passion by Babatunde Olatunji (1960). Drums of Passion (Babatunde Olatunji) — ghost for Abbey Lincoln “Johnson, Stanley Turrentine, Babatunde Olatunji and The Staple Singers, among others.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Sin & Soul by Oscar Brown Jr. (1960). Sin & Soul (Oscar Brown Jr.) — ghost for Abbey Lincoln “Brown's lyrics to "Afro Blue" have been performed by Abbey Lincoln Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Lizz Wright.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (1969). I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou) — culture for Abbey Lincoln “=== Activism === Following the assassination of Congolese liberation leader Patrice Lumumba, Lincoln was a notable participant a group of African-American activists, including Max Roach, Rosa Guy, and Maya Angelou, who burst into a Unite…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Empty Bed Blues by Bessie Smith (1928). Empty Bed Blues (Bessie Smith) — titan for Abbey Lincoln (musicbrainz.org)
• A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (1959). A Raisin in the Sun (Lorraine Hansberry) — culture for Abbey Lincoln (wikidata.org)
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley (1965). The Autobiography of Malcolm X (Malcolm X and Alex Haley) — culture for Abbey Lincoln (wikidata.org)
• Black, Brown and Beige by Duke Ellington (1943). Black, Brown and Beige (Duke Ellington) — titan for Abbey Lincoln

Peers and kindred spirits

• Stan Getz. The discography credits Getz alongside Lincoln on You Gotta Pay the Band. (also via Focus) “Getz's cool tenor fits in very well with Lincoln's voice, making one wish that they had met up previously... it is not surprising that Lincoln sounds typically inspired... Recommended.” (Wikipedia, quoting AllMusic)
• We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite. Abbey Lincoln performed vocals on Max Roach's We Insist! album. “Abbey Lincoln in 1960 singing "Freedom Day."” (Fresh Air (NPR/WHYY))
• Babatunde Olatunji. Olatunji is listed as a featured musician on Lincoln’s album. (also via Drums of Passion) “Devil's Got Your Tongue (1992) featured Rodney Kendrick , Grady Tate , Yoron Israel , J. J. Johnson , Stanley Turrentine , Babatunde Olatunji and The Staple Singers” (Wikipedia)
• Hank Jones. The discography credits Jones alongside Lincoln on When There Is Love. “On the album, Lincoln is joined by saxophonist Stan Getz (in one of his last recording sessions), pianist Hank Jones , double bassist Charlie Haden , and drummer Mark Johnson.” (Wikipedia)
• Eric Dolphy. Lincoln’s guest discography lists a recording with Dolphy. “Eric Dolphy and Benny Bailey , Newport Rebels (Candid, 1961)” (Wikipedia)
• Benny Bailey. Lincoln’s guest discography lists a recording with Bailey. “Eric Dolphy and Benny Bailey , Newport Rebels (Candid, 1961)” (Wikipedia)
• Frank Morgan. Lincoln’s guest discography lists Morgan’s A Lovesome Thing. “Frank Morgan , A Lovesome Thing (Antilles, 1991)” (Wikipedia)
• Bheki Mseleku. Lincoln’s guest discography lists Mseleku’s Timelessness. “Bheki Mseleku , Timelessness (Verve, 1994)” (Wikipedia)
• Mal Waldron. Lincoln’s guest discography lists Waldron’s Soul Eyes. “Mal Waldron , Soul Eyes (BMG/RCA Victor, 1997)” (Wikipedia)
• Cedar Walton. Lincoln’s guest discography lists Walton’s The Maestro. “Wynton Kelly (tracks 2, 4, 5), Cedar Walton (tracks 3, 6), Phil Wright (tracks 7–9) - piano” (Wikipedia)
• Steve Williamson. Lincoln’s guest discography lists Williamson’s A Waltz for Grace. “Steve Williamson , A Waltz for Grace (Verve, 1990)” (Wikipedia)
• Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (1978). Lincoln is listed as a guest on the group’s album English Electric. “"Final Song" contains samples from " Lonely House " as performed by Abbey Lincoln .” (Wikipedia)
• Spread the World, Spread the Gospel. Lincoln performed the named song in The Girl Can’t Help It. “Spread The World, Spread The Gospel Abbey Lincoln Precious & Rare: Abbey Lincoln 2011 2:02” (Spotify)
• The Hawk Flies High by Coleman Hawkins (1957). The Hawk Flies High (Coleman Hawkins) — collaborator for Abbey Lincoln “(RCA Victor, 1963) with Sonny Rollins 1965.02: Wrapped Tight (Impulse!, 1965) 1966.12: Sirius (Pablo, 1975) === Anthologies === 1927–1956: The Indispensable Coleman Hawkins "Body And Soul" (RCA, 1984) 1939–1956: Body & Soul (RCA, LP: 197…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Focus by Stan Getz (1961). Focus (Stan Getz) — collaborator for Abbey Lincoln “1957–1958 Golden Lady with Archie Shepp (Inner City, 1981; reissued as Painted Lady ITM, 1987) Talking to the Sun with Steve Coleman (Enja, 1984) Abbey Sings Billie (Enja, 1989) The World Is Falling Down (Verve, 1990) You Gotta Pay the B…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Benny Carter. Carter is listed among the musicians on Lincoln’s debut album. “Lincoln's 1956 debut album, Abbey Lincoln's Affair... A Story of a Girl in Love – with Benny Carter , Bob Russell, Marty Paitch, and Jack Montrose” (Wikipedia)
• Bob Russell. Russell is listed among the collaborators on Lincoln’s debut album. “Lincoln's 1956 debut album, Abbey Lincoln's Affair... A Story of a Girl in Love – with Benny Carter , Bob Russell, Marty Paitch, and Jack Montrose” (Wikipedia)
• Marty Paich. The article lists Marty Paitch among the collaborators on Lincoln’s debut album. “Lincoln's 1956 debut album, Abbey Lincoln's Affair... A Story of a Girl in Love – with Benny Carter , Bob Russell, Marty Paitch, and Jack Montrose” (Wikipedia)
• Jack Montrose. Montrose is listed among the collaborators on Lincoln’s debut album. “Lincoln's 1956 debut album, Abbey Lincoln's Affair... A Story of a Girl in Love – with Benny Carter , Bob Russell, Marty Paitch, and Jack Montrose” (Wikipedia)
• For All We Know. Lincoln recorded a performance of the earlier song. “a recording of the 1934 song " For All We Know ", by Lincoln accompanied only by Geri Allen on piano, was featured in the 1989 film Drugstore Cowboy” (Wikipedia)
• Geri Allen. Allen accompanied Lincoln on piano for the recording. “a recording of the 1934 song " For All We Know ", by Lincoln accompanied only by Geri Allen on piano” (Wikipedia)
• Rodney Kendrick. Kendrick is listed as a featured musician on Lincoln’s album. “Devil's Got Your Tongue (1992) featured Rodney Kendrick , Grady Tate , Yoron Israel , J. J. Johnson , Stanley Turrentine , Babatunde Olatunji and The Staple Singers” (Wikipedia)
• Grady Tate. Tate is listed as a featured musician on Lincoln’s album. “Devil's Got Your Tongue (1992) featured Rodney Kendrick , Grady Tate , Yoron Israel , J. J. Johnson , Stanley Turrentine , Babatunde Olatunji and The Staple Singers” (Wikipedia)
• Yoron Israel. Israel is listed as a featured musician on Lincoln’s album. “Devil's Got Your Tongue (1992) featured Rodney Kendrick , Grady Tate , Yoron Israel , J. J. Johnson , Stanley Turrentine , Babatunde Olatunji and The Staple Singers” (Wikipedia)
• J. J. Johnson. Johnson is listed as a featured musician on Lincoln’s album. “Devil's Got Your Tongue (1992) featured Rodney Kendrick , Grady Tate , Yoron Israel , J. J. Johnson , Stanley Turrentine , Babatunde Olatunji and The Staple Singers” (Wikipedia)
• Stanley Turrentine. Turrentine is listed as a featured musician on Lincoln’s album. “Devil's Got Your Tongue (1992) featured Rodney Kendrick , Grady Tate , Yoron Israel , J. J. Johnson , Stanley Turrentine , Babatunde Olatunji and The Staple Singers” (Wikipedia)
• The Staple Singers. The Staple Singers are listed as featured performers on Lincoln’s album. “Devil's Got Your Tongue (1992) featured Rodney Kendrick , Grady Tate , Yoron Israel , J. J. Johnson , Stanley Turrentine , Babatunde Olatunji and The Staple Singers” (Wikipedia)
• Ivan Dixon. Lincoln and Dixon co-starred in Nothing But a Man. “With Ivan Dixon , she co-starred in Nothing But a Man (1964), an independent film written and directed by Michael Roemer .” (Wikipedia)
• Michael Roemer. Lincoln acted in a film written and directed by Roemer. “With Ivan Dixon , she co-starred in Nothing But a Man (1964), an independent film written and directed by Michael Roemer .” (Wikipedia)
• Sidney Poitier. Lincoln co-starred with Poitier in For Love of Ivy. “In 1968, she co-starred with Sidney Poitier and Beau Bridges in For Love of Ivy” (Wikipedia)
• Beau Bridges. Lincoln co-starred with Bridges in For Love of Ivy. “In 1968, she co-starred with Sidney Poitier and Beau Bridges in For Love of Ivy” (Wikipedia)
• Alice Childress. Lincoln performed in Childress’s play Wine in the Wilderness. “In March 1969, she appeared in Alice Childress 's Wine in the Wilderness , the first of the 10-episode series "On Being Black"” (Wikipedia)
• Spike Lee (1957). Lincoln appeared in Lee’s film Mo’ Better Blues. “In the 1990 Spike Lee movie Mo' Better Blues , Lincoln played the young Bleek's mother Lillian.” (Wikipedia)
• Buddy Collette (1921). The discography identifies a live recording with Collette. “Sessions, Live with Buddy Collette and Les Thompson ( Calliope , 1976) – live rec. 1957–1958” (Wikipedia)
• Les Thompson. The discography identifies a live recording with Thompson. “Sessions, Live with Buddy Collette and Les Thompson ( Calliope , 1976) – live rec. 1957–1958” (Wikipedia)
• Archie Shepp. The discography credits Shepp alongside Lincoln on Golden Lady. “Golden Lady with Archie Shepp ( Inner City , 1981; reissued as Painted Lady ITM, 1987)” (Wikipedia)
• Steve Coleman. The discography credits Coleman alongside Lincoln on Talking to the Sun. “Talking to the Sun with Steve Coleman ( Enja , 1984)” (Wikipedia)
• Charlie Haden. The album account identifies Haden as Lincoln's bassist on You Gotta Pay the Band. “On the album, Lincoln is joined by saxophonist Stan Getz (in one of his last recording sessions), pianist Hank Jones , double bassist Charlie Haden , and drummer Mark Johnson.” (Wikipedia)
• Kenny Dorham. The personnel listing credits Dorham with trumpet on Lincoln's Abbey Is Blue. “Kenny Dorham (tracks 2, 4, 7–9), Tommy Turrentine (tracks 1, 3, 6, 10) - trumpet” (Wikipedia)
• Nina Simone. Straight Ahead (Abbey Lincoln) — peer for Nina Simone (via Straight Ahead, Nina Simone in Concert) (musicbrainz.org)

…and 7 more on the map above.

Who Abbey Lincoln influenced

• Blue Light 'Til Dawn by Cassandra Wilson (1993). Blue Light 'Til Dawn (Cassandra Wilson) — legacy for Abbey Lincoln “Heavily influenced by singers Abbey Lincoln and Betty Carter, she fine-tuned her vocal phrasing and scat while studying ear training with trombonist Grachan Moncur III.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Red Earth: A Malian Journey by Dee Dee Bridgewater (2007). Red Earth: A Malian Journey (Dee Dee Bridgewater) — legacy for Abbey Lincoln (musicbrainz.org)