DOMINIQUE FILS-AIMÉ – LIVE AT THE MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
Artist: Dominique Fils-Aimé
Album: Live At The Montreal International Jazz Festival
Label: Ensoul Records
Link: domiofficial.com/fr
Style: Jazz, Soul, Funk
Quebec singer Dominique Fils-Aimé grew up in a family where music was very present, listening to soul and jazz classics and training in classical piano and singing. She was part of several bands before releasing an EP and participating in the TV show “La Voix.” She then participated in numerous festivals and her releases were noticed, cited by the press and in award selections, including the JUNOS and the Félix, which she won. Each of the albums in her first trilogy explores a style of African-American music such as jazz or blues, and her latest studio album, Our Roots Run Deep, delighted our turntables.
No stranger to concerts and captivating stage presence, the singer has finally released her first live album. Inspired by Nina Simone and Billie Holiday, she masterfully blends genres without resorting to intellectual pretension. This concert feels more substantial and expansive than her studio albums, giving her compositions a more direct and physical impact. The gospel and soul influences are still present, but funk takes on a more prominent role, without being too intrusive, as the artist knows how to draw us into this moment of sharing without a single moment of boredom.
Her firm and composed voice is totally mastered, but she knows how to be playful at times to introduce a touch of fantasy. Like the singer, the accompaniment defies categorization, offering a wide range of acoustic and electric instruments. The quality of the sound recording is equally impressive, highlighting the energy of the electric bass and the subtlety of the brushes on the cymbals. The strong bond between the musicians is often palpable, and the feel of the venue contrasts with listening to an album recorded in a studio. As with any live performance, this is particularly noticeable and appreciable during audience participation, which immerses us in the concert with the artist.