First, a disclaimer: every morning for the past 25 years, as I get ready for church, I put on a cd of gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe in order to get me into the mood for worshiping God. There isn’t ANYTHING the lets the Holy Spirit get me moving like songs from this lady!
McCoy Tyner-alumnus Avery Sharpe must agree, as the 60-string electric bassist delivers a tribute to the lady with a mix of jazz and spirituals. He teams his band of Charles Neville-Charles Langford/sax, Michael King/p-B3, Cory Cox/dr, Jeremy Turgeon/tp, James Messbauer/tb and vocalist Meli’sa Morgan with the New England Gospel Choir, mixing American soul with the soul after God’s own heart.
Thus, you get some soul-stirring material as the tenor sax teams with the choir on “Up Above My Head” and “Shout, Sister Shout” as Sharpe taps into his inner James Jamerson. Morgan gets into the Soul Train mood with the band on a 70s read of “This Train” while Heshima Moja steps out from the choir to deliver a rich vocalization with Turgeon’s trumpet on “Lonesome Road.” The band shows its jazz chops on a bopping “A City Called Heaven” and a pre-saved Tharpe is given a nod as R&B moods take you to the juke joint across town from the church on “I Want A Tall Skinny Papa.” The Lord wins the battle, however, as the troubles and woes are laid to rest on “Down By The Riverside.” This is an impressive pilgrimage, and fit for taking time with God, who likes every instrument to praise Him. Amen!
JKNM Records