Search - Fontella Bass :: Free

Obscure album deserves status of soul classic

Peter E. Johansen | 05/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Fontella Bass singing with Art Ensemble of Chicago (she was married to trumpeter Lester Bowie) on the sublime album Les Stances a Sophie. Her voice sounded so good to me I immediately ordered this CD, and I'm sure happy I did. But The Art Ensemble of Chicago is definitely not the best reference point for what this particular album sounds like, which is much more in the vein of Aretha Franklin, or at times Nina Simone, and she has a voice that holds its own with either of these great singers. This album just works, one great song after another. Political at times, but certainly not preachy. Mostly just top-shelf gospel-influenced soul music, with a tight backing band (unfortunately not listed). The strings, when they are present, are edgy enough not to make the album ever sound too overproduced. In short, I think if you are interested in delving into late-sixties/early-70s soul past the obvious masters, then you really can't go wrong with this album."