Archie Shepp, Blasé (side A)

Blasé foreshadows Shepp's populist soul/gospel-tinged albums of the 70s more often than it resembles his chaotic energy jazz works that were contemporaneous with it.  Where Jeanne Lee often seemed out of place in her appearances on free-blowing records, Shepp uses her perfectly here—she sings melodies over mostly repeated grooves.  Chicago Beau and Julio Finn, who overwhelmed some records, fit nicely into the background here, and Philly Joe Jones shows his versatility in veering from swing to explosion to texture.  After Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady", Blasé ends with heavy wailing on the closer "Touareg".  The front and back cover photos are great, and my original pressing sounds surprisingly good.