Blind Boys Of Alabama – Down In New Orleans (Proper Records).
Four time Grammy Award winners The Blind Boys Of Alabama have recorded in New Orleans for the first time in their history, which stretches back almost 70 years. They fitted in so well with the New Orleans way of things that you won’t notice. Supporting them in their stint in the Big Easy were stellar figures such as Allen Toussaint and the trio that made up their backing band, pianist David Torkanowsky, bassist Roland Guerin and Shannon Powell on drums. Free At Last is Gospel with a smokey lead vocal over the funky groove. Make A Better World has good horns throughout this Gospel inflected Soul/R&B. This was written by Earl King, one of New Orleans’ favourite sons and it is surprising that it is the horns and the laid back sax in particular, that are to the forefront rather than the guitar which King was so famous for. Mahalia Jackson’s How I Got Over is slow and soulful with a strong lead vocal. The harmonies are as you would expect, oh yes! You Got To Move is an uptempo version of the well known song. Across The Bridge has a New Orleans feel to it and You Better Mind is Gospel shouting par excellence.
Down By The Riverside is the classic song and they give it their own inimitable twist. It’s only piano and voice for If I Could Help Somebody but this Mahalia Jackson song is one of the most powerful tracks on offer. Uncloudy Day has the aid of The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and smacks of New Orleans. A Prayer is soulful and I’ve Got A Home is Gospel with a sound beat. The gravely vocal sets the whole thing off. They close with I’ll Fly Away on which a military snare leads into New Orleans jazz.
They have been about in various guises for nearly 70 years – that says it all.
http://www.proper-records.co.uk/
David Blue.
Four time Grammy Award winners The Blind Boys Of Alabama have recorded in New Orleans for the first time in their history, which stretches back almost 70 years. They fitted in so well with the New Orleans way of things that you won’t notice. Supporting them in their stint in the Big Easy were stellar figures such as Allen Toussaint and the trio that made up their backing band, pianist David Torkanowsky, bassist Roland Guerin and Shannon Powell on drums. Free At Last is Gospel with a smokey lead vocal over the funky groove. Make A Better World has good horns throughout this Gospel inflected Soul/R&B. This was written by Earl King, one of New Orleans’ favourite sons and it is surprising that it is the horns and the laid back sax in particular, that are to the forefront rather than the guitar which King was so famous for. Mahalia Jackson’s How I Got Over is slow and soulful with a strong lead vocal. The harmonies are as you would expect, oh yes! You Got To Move is an uptempo version of the well known song. Across The Bridge has a New Orleans feel to it and You Better Mind is Gospel shouting par excellence.
Down By The Riverside is the classic song and they give it their own inimitable twist. It’s only piano and voice for If I Could Help Somebody but this Mahalia Jackson song is one of the most powerful tracks on offer. Uncloudy Day has the aid of The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and smacks of New Orleans. A Prayer is soulful and I’ve Got A Home is Gospel with a sound beat. The gravely vocal sets the whole thing off. They close with I’ll Fly Away on which a military snare leads into New Orleans jazz.
They have been about in various guises for nearly 70 years – that says it all.
http://www.proper-records.co.uk/
David Blue.
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