Paula Cole Reimagines Music Of Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Bobbie Gentry, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald And More

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On August 11th, GRAMMY-winning artist and activist Paula Cole returns with her eighth studio album, 'Ballads, ' a collection of soulful interpretations of American jazz, folk and country classics from the 1930's to the 60's. Self-produced and released through her own label, 675 Records, the twenty-song double-album features tracks originally written or popularized by Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan, Bobbie Gentry, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald and more.

'Ballads' is dedicated to Paula's father who instilled a joy of music in her from a young age, and the album shines a light on her own roots as a jazz singer. Cole takes these songs on a journey, transporting Bobbie Gentry's timeless mystery "Ode to Billy Joe", and lends her silky vocals to John Coltrane's signature saxophone melody on "Naima, " turning it into a haunting, ethereal stretch of sky.

Like much of Cole's discography, 'Ballads' was self-produced and was mastered by Bob Ludwig. Rounding out her studio ensemble are the first-call rhythm section drummer Jay Bellerose (T Bone Burnett, Regina Spektor, Punch Brothers, Joe Henry) and upright bassist Dennis Crouch (Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Diana Krall), plus guitarists Kevin Barry and Chris Bruce, and pianist Consuelo Candelaria.

Paula Cole has infused wit and poetry into seven albums of original work stretching back over twenty years. Her 1997 breakthrough 'This Fire' featured the singles "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?" and "I Don't Want To Wait, " achieving double-platinum sales in the U.S. and seven GRAMMY nominations including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Best New Artist, the latter of which Cole won.

Now nearing 50, Paula will play select dates across the country this year, including shows where she plays 'This Fire' in full from front to back. See below for full tour routing.

TRACKLIST

1. God Bless The Child

2. I Wish (I Knew How It Feels To Be Free)

3. Naima

4. Ode To Billy Joe

5. You've Changed

6. What A Little Moonlight Can Do

7. I'm Old Fashioned

8. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll

9. Never Will I Marry

10. Skylark

11. The Ballad of Hollis Brown

12. Body and Soul

13. Nice Work If You Can Get It

14. Farewell, My Friends

15. I Cover The Waterfront

16. Blue Moon

17. You Hit The Spot

18. Willow Weep For Me

19. Autumn Leaves

20. My One And Only Love

TOUR DATES

Jun 3 - Atlanta, GA - City Winery Atlanta

Jun 19 - New York, NY - City Winery

Jun 30 - East Hampton, NY - Guild Hall

Jul 6 - Carlsbad, CA - Museum of Making Music

Jul 7 - Santa Monica, CA - McCabe's

Jul 8 - Santa Barbara, CA - Lobero Theatre

Jul 28 - Rockport, MA - Shalin Liu Performance Center<

Aug 11 - West Kingston, RI - Courthouse Center For The Arts

Aug 12 - Rockport, MA - Shalin Liu Performance Center

Aug 13 - Derry, NH - Tupelo Music Hall

Oct 11 – Evanston, IL – SPACE

Oct 12 – Cleveland, OH – Music Box Supper Club

Oct 13 – Monroe, MI – La-Z-Boy Center

Oct 14 – Saugatuck, MI – Saugatuck Center for the Arts

Oct 19 – North Bethesda, MD – AMP by Strathmore

Oct 20 – New York, NY – City Winery

Oct 26 – Oakland, CA – Yoshi's

Oct 27 – Kirkland, WA – Kirkland PAC

Oct 28 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theatre

Oct 29 – Bremerton, WA – Admiral Theatre

Dec 16 – Natick, MA – The Center for the Arts in Natick

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