Personnel includes: Lady Bianca (vocals, piano), Carl Lockett (guitar), Dave Matthews (piano, Hammond organ), Tony Sanders (bass), Dave Rokeach (drums).
After years of session and live work (with Van Morrison, Jon Hendricks, John Lee Hooker), Lady Bianca made her solo debut with this 1995 record, released through Telarc. Though technically a blues record, Best Kept Secret actually reveals Bianca's roots in gospel and soul. Her voice is powerful enough to rank her with blues heavyweights like Koko Taylor, though she can also summon the simmering fire of Aretha Franklin (circa "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman") on a song like "Ooh, His Love Is So Good." Stanley Lippitt, Lady Bianca's main musical cohort on the record, proves to be a valuable addition, co-writing all the songs as well as arranging all the strings and horns (the latter to best effect on the excellent slow-burn Stax number "How Do I Tell My Little Sister?"). ~ John Bush
Professional Reviews
Living Blues (9-10/95, p.104) - "...Lady Bianca's contralto voice and the set's innovative arrangements make for a forward looking album that will find favor with fans of contemporary African-American music."
