Our Roots Run Deep
Ensoul, 2023
9/10
A Juno Award winner, the singer-songwriter Dominique Fils-Aimé blends jazz, blues and soul into a listen that embraces African American heritage, and she’s got some excellent players for the affair.
Hichem Khalfa’s animated trumpet joins Fils-Aimé for the title track, which opens the listen with much soulfulness, as light drumming from Frantz-Lee Leonard and plenty of well timed backing vocals are present, and “Hide From The Drama” follows with a very precise delivery of layered voices and Etienne Miousse’s skilled guitar.
Approaching the middle, the gospel flavored “Give Me A Reason” benefits much from Jacques Roy’s strategic bass amid the light melodies, while “Quiet Down The Voices” is a more intimate moment of mesmerizing singing and a distinct dreaminess.
Nearing the end, “Feeling Like A Plant” spotlights Elli Miller Maboungou’s cultured percussion and “Let Me Go” exits with a 2nd version of a previous tune, and it’s vocally focused and lush beautiful ways.
A body of work that’s often cinematic and pays close attention to mood, Fils-Aimé manipulates space and tension with fascinating and rich songwriting that will always be relevant.
Travels well with: Jean-Michel Blais- Aubades; Alexandra Streliski- Inscape