Bleep

Soul Jazz Records commemorate the 50th birthday of the Art Ensemble of Chicago by re-releasing their important 1970 work Les Stances A Sophie. For this LP the core AEoC membership of Roscoe Mitchell, Lester Bowie, Malachi Flavors and Joseph Jarman were joined by drummer Don Moye and singer/pianist Fontella Bass. For just over a half-hour the sextet brings together elements of free jazz, spiritual jazz, post-bop and funk to create a heady Afrofuturist sound. Gil Scott-Heron (whose debut LP came out in the same year as Les Stances A Sophie) was surely taking note. The recruitment of Bass proved particularly inspired - her commanding vocal turn on opener ‘Theme De Yoyo’ is a standout moment of this excellent record.