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Yasmina A Black Woman on CD

This premium edition revives a historic 1969 Paris session from the iconic BYG/Actuel catalog-an essential statement from a visionary musician and activist, now reissued in it's best quality ever. Restored & remastered from the original tapes by Nick Robbins, it features a new and insightful essay by author & music journalist Kevin Le Gendre.

The CD edition comes in a deluxe digi-sleeve that captures the essence of the original LP, complete with a 16-page booklet and printed inner wallet.

Awarded Audiophile Album of the Month by Jazzwise, March 2023, and hailed as "A must for Shepp fans as well as free-jazz aficionados" by Kevin Whitlock - Jazzwise.

Among the many African-American jazz musicians who arrived in Paris in the late '60s, saxophonist Archie Shepp was arguably the most influential. Still residing in the French capital today, he became a key figure in the European jazz scene, forging strong collaborations with artists like German pianist Joachim Kühn. Archie Shepp recorded several landmark albums for BYG, with Yasmina, A Black Woman standing out as one of the most compelling-both musically and intellectually.

The title track is a powerful tribute to a "soul sister" with an Afro-Arabic name, signaling a deliberate shift away from Eurocentric narratives. Shepp's impassioned performance is matched by an extraordinary lineup that bridges hard bop and the avant-garde. Saxophonist Hank Mobley and drummer Philly Joe Jones-two hard bop legends-share the stage with boundary-pushing soloists like pianist Dave Burrell, trumpeter Lester Bowie, and saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, both of whom were members of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. The result? A true jazz supergroup.

This remarkable ensemble delivers a dynamic repertoire that reflects Shepp's deep engagement with the entire spectrum of Black American music, from blues and swing to free improvisation, while embracing African rhythms and post-colonial themes. The album radiates defiant energy yet also reveals moments of profound romanticism and tenderness-a testament to Shepp's artistry and vision.