M'Bilia Bel - Phénoméne

Bel sang for years with Rochereau and went out on her own in 1988. Bameli Soy presents her in the Rochereau days. The marvelous Phénomène was the first fruit of her artistic freedom and it's wonderful, with ace arranger Rigo Star's work framing her sensuous style without making it soupy. And given how well her style and voice blended with the benign drive of Afrisa International, as Bameli Soy attests, her solo success was against considerable self-competition. ~ John Storm Roberts, All Music Guide