Where Day is A-Breakin’ in The Soul
The ST CHARLES SINGERS' AMERICAN REFLECTIONS imbues the listener with a sense of being on hallowed, holy ground, closer to the essence. Texts by RAINER MARIA RILKE, OCTAVIO PAZ, AARON COPLAND and others.
Spotlight Album
Leaving the Stillness of Peace in Its Wake
The first essential reissue of 2019, the French import ROBERTA MARTIN SINGERS: 1947-1962 charts the gold standard early years of this most influential African American mixed-voice gospel ensemble.
Being About the Persistence of Love
At long last, 83-year-old MARY LANE asserts herself at the forefront of contemporary blues with TRAVELIN' WOMAN, her record of a lifetime and of hanging in and hanging on to love, body, soul and heart intact.
Chronicling a Spiritual Exodus from Modern-Day Anxieties
One of the first great albums of 2019, GOSHEN, by DONALD LAWRENCE PRESENTS THE TRI-CITY SINGERS, is a concept album ranging from worship songs to topical numbers to rages against the machine--and the power of faith.
Enter, And Feel the Spirit
Soaring emotions and exquisite quartet harmonizing abound on TRAVELIN' SHOES, a foray into southern gospel (with a stop along the way at western gospel!) by the redoubtable MARLEY'S GHOST
‘Voices Raised in Determination and Triumph’
On this, its fifth CD, The Ebony Hillbillies' old-timey sound evokes, on the one hand, bygone eras in the jubilant bones- and fiddle-fired title track and horrific modern-day tragedies rooted in racial animus...
A Paean to Living, Remembering, Carrying On, Moving Forward
The pieces on this expertly produced Open G Records disc ask the listener not only to absorb the complexities of the sonic layers but also to consider their meaning.
Exuding the Joy of Connection Through Music
FRANCESCA DEGO's exceptional album of concerti by NICCOLO PAGANINI and ERMANNO WOLF-FERRARI merits an exceptional review by JOSEPH NEWSOME
Undaunted
On WE RISE UP, RAVEN AND RED confront all manner of romantic debacle and emerge undaunted. Attention must be paid to these young artists.
If It Weren’t for Good Luck…
On this, his 18th long player, Chris Smither emphasizes—then re-emphasizes--the irony of the collection’s title while taking interesting detours into vintage classics.