Roberta Flack: The Montreux Years

With a voice of remarkable nuance and power, Roberta Flack emerged as one of the defining artists of the early 1970s. Drawing on her classical training as a pianist and vocalist, Flack crafted a deeply expressive style that moved seamlessly between soul, jazz, pop and folk.

Spanning nearly four decades, this live album chronicles Flack's journey at the festival, from her 1971 debut to her final appearance in 2008. The album is 2026's addition to The Montreux Years series, celebrating the festival's extensive archive, which launched with collections spotlighting Nina Simone, Etta James, Dr. John, Monty Alexander and more. Comprising more than 4,000 live recordings made between 1967 and 2012, the festival archive was inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2013. Fully restored and mastered by Tony Cousins at Metropolis Studios, all tracks have been treated to first-rate audio restoration and brought back to life with superb clarity.

Flack was immersed in a vibrant community of musicians at Montreux, many of whom became lifelong friends. She described the festival as "the most special place on earth, a place where my friends and I can spend time talking, walking, celebrating and performing together in the most beautiful setting in the world." She particularly admired Claude Nobs' gift for bringing artists together in spontaneous collaborations. Flack's connection to Atlantic Records began after Les McCann heard her perform in Washington, D.C., and recommended her to the label. Claude Nobs later met Flack through his relationship with Atlantic and Nesuhi Ertegun and invited her to perform at Montreux's Rose d'Or Television Festival in 1970. She made her Montreux Jazz Festival debut the following year.

Featuring striking new artwork, rare, previously unseen archival photography and exclusive liner notes by her longtime manager and friend, Suzanne Koga, this 13-track release (on CD and 2LP vinyl) offers a fresh perspective on her legacy and includes several of her signature hits, such as "Killing Me Softly with His Song" and "Feel Like Makin' Love." With 37 years separating the first and last performances, this recording offers a fascinating perspective for prospective listeners, whether you are a longtime admirer or discovering Flack's music for the very first time.