2012 · Album
Another Country
eOne Records · Produced by Fabrizio Sotti · Released: June 20, 2012
Wilson's Smoky Alto Finds New Ground
Wilson bends almost everything to her will, expanding her boundaries as a singer with musical choices that feel genuinely restless.
Another Country arrives as a collaboration between Cassandra Wilson and Italian guitarist and producer Fabrizio Sotti, and what emerges is a record that sits comfortably between Wilson's established strengths and her willingness to shift direction. The sound is intimate but spacious—Sotti's guitar work provides the spine of the production, allowing Wilson's smoky alto room to breathe and twist around the arrangements. This is not a full-band record in the traditional sense; instead it feels like a series of conversations between two musicians working through covers and new material with deliberate restraint.
By the time of this album, Wilson had already spent decades proving herself as perhaps the greatest living female jazz singer. She had built her reputation on an almost restless approach to material—blues, soul, pop standards, jazz ballads all passed through her singular phrasing. Another Country continues that pattern, but with a producer whose sensibility clearly favors space over clutter. Sotti's presence throughout suggests a real artistic partnership rather than a hired hand, and the record benefits from that clarity of vision.
Critics were largely supportive. AllMusic reviewer Thom Jurek noted that though the album had a couple of missteps, it represented a welcome phase for Wilson, with her boundaries as a singer expanding through genuine musical choices. Jazzwise gave it a strong four out of five stars. For listeners already familiar with Wilson's work, this is worth exploring as a late-career record that still finds her searching rather than settled.
Who's playing
Nicola Soratoelectric bass guitar
Fabrizio Sottielectric guitar
Cassandra Wilsonacoustic guitar
Lekan Babalolapercussion
Mino Cinelupercussion
Julien Labroaccordion
