Black Woman

Released

In the mid to late ’60s, guitarist Sonny Sharrock was fairly well known as part of Herbie Mann’s soul-jazz group. His wife, vocalist Linda Sharrock, also appeared with Mann sometimes, and the flutist produced this record, which features Ted Daniel on trumpet, Dave Burrell on piano, Sirone and Richard Pierce on basses, and Milford Graves on drums. Sonny’s compositions often use bluesy melodies as springboards; the title piece is a kind of bluesy, operatic gospel number, with Linda Sharrock’s anguished, wordless vocals saying more than any lyric could. “Peanut” and “Portrait Of Linda In Three Colors, All Black” are the most intense tracks, with Burrell and Graves pushing ever further out as the vocals and guitar soar like eagles over a forest fire.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
Northernsong cover

Northernsong

Luke Norris
Codona cover

Codona

Collin Walcott, Codona, Naná Vasconcelos, Don Cherry
United cover

United

Woody Shaw
Sacred Ceremonies cover

Sacred Ceremonies

Bill Laswell, Wadada Leo Smith, Milford Graves
Philip Cohran & the Artistic Heritage Ensemble cover

Philip Cohran & the Artistic Heritage Ensemble

Philip Cohran & the Artistic Heritage Ensemble
Off the End cover

Off the End

Brandon Ross
Signs cover

Signs

Purelink