@curiousjim - Nina Simone is in the category of socially relevant, and poignant composers, not necessarily the most beautiful voice.
Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue is an effects album
Drives me a little nuts how many still praise this album as the end all Jazz album for audiophiles.
Mind you, I really like Miss Barber's music, and some tracks on Cafe Blue, but Cafe Blue, the darling of many an audiophile, isn't even close to her best album. At best its Audiophile bait. At worst it's preternaturally sterile and lab grown.
Live at the Green Mill for instance is just such a better album to listen to.