Lee Fields is the last remaining bastion of soul. Soul as it was.
As the band’s website rightly proclaims: “There aren’t too many artists making soul music today who had a release in 1969.” So why not take a trip back in time with Fields and his backing group, the Expressions, to an era when soul ruled the airwaves.
Fields’ demeanour, raspy vocal style and sharp sense of style epitomises, to borrow Pitchfork’s phrasing, “a throwback done right”.
There is no other performer today anything close to Fields as he continues to create a sense of timelessness through the groove of soul. A handful of other purveyors come close – including Aloe Blacc, Charles Bradley and Cody Chestnut – but theirs is very much a contemporary take, not classic.
Making his name back in the 1970s, Fields owed part of his success to James Brown – so much so he was affectionately branded ‘Little JB’ by his contemporaries. Five decades later and Fields’ tenacious spirit has led him to a desperately profound brand of life-affirming soul.
Having returned from a short break in 2013, Fields and his band entered the studio to record the album Emma Jean (2014). Harkening back to the golden era of southern R&B, the record is foregrounded by the voice of a professional musician who has consistently delivered – though not always reaped just rewards – since making his debut in 1969.
Lee Fields & the Expressions
Fri 14 Nov, 21:00; Loppen; 210kr
