Anastasia is the second album by the sextet Sun Fantasia, led by Marie-Soleil Lambert, singer, bassist, composer, and artist at large, as evidenced by the album cover, a reproduction of a very pretty acrylic painting by the young lady. A first album, Free Spirit, in 2023, had already announced great promises, including a complex and attractive musical universe rooted in jazz fusion. We had also noticed a confident voice with a very beautiful timbre and astonishing ease in her improvised lines. The lady impresses with her bold harmonic leaps and a modernized, technically impeccable scat. This second opus delves deeper into jazz with eight solid original compositions, and leaves less room for the rock side of the first. This seems to me to be an excellent choice because the artist feels perfectly suited to this type of repertoire and musical style. Chick Corea, Weather Report, Joni Mitchell, and even Frank Zappa are mentioned. All of this is true and thankfully not mentioned lightly because the vocal as well as instrumental work is up to these mythical references. Lambert is remarkably surrounded by Loik Martin (guitar), Loic Du Sablon (drums), Adelina Steinmtez (flute), Sam Fortin (piano) and Sean Burke (bass).
I was talking to you about beautiful promises earlier. These are fully met in this excellent album, carried by an artist whose career will need to be followed closely.
Anastasia will be officially launched on November 11, 2025, at the Casa del popolo in Montreal.
Sun Fantasia will also be performing on December 16 at Fou Bar in Quebec City.
