Roberta

by

Roberta Flack

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Aptly entitled "Roberta", this criminally ignored album from 1994 marked the return of a prodigal daughter and a new beginning for Robert Flack whose illustrious career as a serious jazz/soul artiste suddenly ended when she chose to walk down Adult Contemporary Lane. As if to atone for her walkabout, this album returns with a vengeance to the "singer in a jazz combo" format which launched her career in 1969 with the classic "First Take". Roberta's convincing return to form on this remarkable set may thus be seen as something of a renaissance in that up until then, she hadn't recorded anything remotely worthy of her own talent for nearly twenty years. Neither had she let on that she would once again allow her stately and majestic voice (described by admirers as "quiet fire" and "the sound of velvet melting") to take centrestage and become the focal point of her performances. The material she has chosen for this comeback album is for the most part impeccable. How can you quarrel with soul standards like Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" and B B King's "The Thrill Is Gone" ? Or even the brace of cool jazz standards running seamlessly through the second half of the set ? The only trace of her misguided MOR years was in a ten-minute cover of Stephen Bishop's maudlin 70s pop hit, "It Might Be You". The other tiny miscalculation she and the producers took was in a rather stodgy and leaden version of Stevie Wonder's "Looking For Another Pure Love". Everything else on "Roberta" is perfection. Pure bliss. She hits a miraculous purple patch from "Angel Eyes" onwards with a series of jazz and swing standards that encapsulate the best singing she has done in ages. The album closes on a glorious note with the unbelievable "You'll Never Know", the only original new song on the set and a particular highlight. Roberta's vocal performances throughout are as controlled, nuanced, and alternatingly powerful and sensual, as ever. She is also by turns intimate, bluesy, mellow, swinging and sassy. Fans who didn't buy the album don't know what they're missing. More's the pity. Without a doubt, "Roberta" is the most outstanding work she has done since her early days as a virtuoso performer. Come back, Roberta. All is forgiven.