Sonny Sharrock – Black Woman

When avant-garde guitarist Sonny Sharrock released his debut solo album Black Woman, he was already an established jazz guitarist, recording with artists like Pharoah Sanders, Don Cherry, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Mann, and Byrd Lancaster. When asked about his fondness for Sharrock’s playing, Mann commented: “Lots of people say they can’t understand how Sonny Sharrock can be in my band. The only reason for them saying that is: possibly they think that when you’re a bandleader you expect all your children to be brought up in your exact image. Which just shows that people and critics don’t know anything about individuals.” Black Woman put Sharrock’s singular approach to the guitar at the forefront, showcasing, on one side, a deep intimacy on tracks like “Blind Willie,” while, on the other, his immensely powerful shred-style which released waves of sound into often cosmic territories on tracks like “Black Woman” and “Peanut.” Linda Sharrock’s Holy Ghost-like vocals and Milford Graves’ abstract drumming provide the perfect complement here to Sharrock’s soulful, primal free jazz.

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