"What Happened Miss Simone?" Yale School of Architecture

. Screening of the new documentary about the "high priestess of soul", Nina Simone.  Jammed into a classroom with other NS fans and the filmmaker, Liz Garbus, we saw a fascinating and sad tale of this iconic singer. Born in South Carolina,  Eunice Waymon showed an aptitude for piano at an early age. Trying to become the first female black pianist to play at Carnegie Hall, Eunice and family moved to Philadelphia to further her classical training. For money, Eunice changed her name to NS and played joints in Atlantic City. Eunice changed her name so her mother would not know of her night job playing the " devil's music". A club owner said she could keep the job if she played and sang.  She moved to NYC and married a tough ex-cop who managed the beginnings of success. The husband turned out to be abusive. Nina found refuge in the blossoming civil rights movement. They moved to Mount Vernon next to MalcolmX ( probably some awesome block parties!), and had a child. NS's music became more socially conscious and her fame and marriage suffered. A true artist, NS was difficult onstage. Her longtime friend and guitarist became wary of her ability to perform. In the 90s, we had tickets to a Newport Jazz festival with NS as top billing only to have her cancel for health reasons. Moving to Liberia, Switzerland, Paris, finally Holland, NS was an ex-pat of the "United Snakes of America". Ultimately diagnosed and treated for bipolar disease, drug therapy compromised her art. The arc of her career was fascinating and sad. This film opened this years Sundance festival and will soon be available on Netflix,  a worthwhile documentary.