Cello and trombone are not frequently found together in African music, especially in homage to an American blues legend, but Blick Bassy’s hunch they would complement his dreamy falsetto proves inspired. One influence on this suite of songs about home and separation is Mississippi bluesman Skip James, with whom Bassy shares an ethereal voice and a taste for minor chords. The accompaniments are minimal and delicate – picked guitar and banjo for simple pieces such as Kiki (where Bassy recalls Congo colossus Tabu Ley Rochereau), haunting cello for the forlorn Aké and a burst of brass for the up-tempo Wap Do Wap. A short but beautifully realised gem from an innovative Paris label.
