Brazeal Dennard Chorale

Review: Dedicated to preserving the roots of African-American choral heritage, the 68-strong, Detroit, Michigan-based Brazeal Dennard Chorale was founded in 1972. 'Hush' is a powerful collection of traditional spirituals: 'Lord I Want To Be A Christian,' 'There Is A Balm,' 'Hush!,' 'I Want To Die Easy,' 'Great Day,' 'Drinking Of The Wine,' 'Here's a Pretty Little Baby,' 'Sweet Home,' 'New Born,' 'Our Father,' 'Fix Me Jesus,' 'My Lord What a Morning,' 'Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit,' 'Give Me Jesus,' 'Ain't Got Time to Die,' 'This Little Light O'Mine, 'Steal Away' and 'Fare Ye Well.' As the liner notes state, spirituals grew from the cries of slaves, which elongated and evolved into melodies, making slaves the first African-American composers. Beautiful music, authentic, soulful and moving.

Songlist: Lord, I Want to Be A Christian, There Is A Balm, Hush! Somebody's Calling My Name, I Want to Die Easy, Great Day, Drinking of the Wine, Here's A Pretty Little Baby, Sweet Home, New Born, Our Father, Fix Me Jesus, My Lord What A Morning, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, Give Me Jesus, Ain't Got Time to Die, This Little Light O'Mine, Steal Away, Fare Ye Well

Review: 'In Silent Night' is of course a Christmas CD, but it is so much more. The 51-strong Brazeal Dennard Chorale bases their music on the traditional African-American spiritual's deep emotion, intensity and strength. Dr. Karen Walwyn is listed as the accompanist. 13 powerful songs from a talented group dedicated to preserve and perpetuate the African-American spiritual.

Songlist: In Silent Night, Ave Maria, Alleluia, He Stooped To Bless, Little Lamb, Psalm 57, Hehlehlooyuh, O Praise The Lord, Negro Bell Carol, Nowhere To Lay His Head, Hail Mary, Betelehemu, Siyahamba

Review: The half men, half women, 49-strong, acclaimed Chorale led by Dr. Brazeal W. Dennard is dedicated to remembering, discovering and preserving the rich Spirituals born out of their ancestors' struggle for freedom. 'Remem-bering' follows their earlier recording, 'Remembering, Discovering, Preserving 'beautifully on this path. There are 14 authentic songs here, from 'Ride On Jesus,''Were You There?'and 'Daniel, Daniel, Servant Of The Lord,'to 'Hol' de Light!,''Plenty Good Room,''I've Been 'Buked'and 'Oh Freedom,'these songs are filled with feeling, strength and faith. On the cover is a photo of a monument to Detroit's Underground Railroad called Gateway to Freedom that exactly captures the spirit of 'Remembering II.'

Songlist: Ride On Jesus, Were You There?, Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord, I Wanna Be Ready, Hol' de Light!, My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord, Lord I Don't Feel Noways Tired, Plenty Good Room, Mary Was the Queen of the Galilee, I Believe this is Jesus, I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray, I've Been 'Buked, Crossin Ovuh, Oh Freedom

Review: The story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers is one of the most inspiring in all of American Music. In 1872 a history of their struggle, triumph, and music finally saw print. They sang the songs which were handed down to them by their slave ancestors. The songs expressed profound religious beliefs, an unshakable faith, relief from the suffering of slavery, and the optimism for a better world to come. In truth they were a major contributing tributary to the musical stream which diverged into gospel and blues. This beautiful recording recreates and shares with us some of that body of work which is so important to American music. It is meant to document and present to posterity some of the most powerful music ever sung.

Songlist: Oh, That Bleeding Lamb, I'll Never Turn Back, Listen to the Lambs, In Bright Mansions Above, Is a Light Shining, Heavenly Union, An' I Cry, O Holy Lord, Ain'A That Good News, Lily of the Valley, Gonna Journey Away, Any How, There's a Lit'l Wheel, O the Rocks and the Mountains, I'm Gonna Sing the Spirit, Elijah Rock