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The Blind Boys Of Alabama
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Go Tell It On The Mountain: Live In New York [DVD]
Eagle Rock Entertainment
Release: 2/22/2005
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Rated:
Review by:
Jason Warner
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As a musician I find myself constantly trying to keep the
band running and together. We seem to go through a
line-up change at least once a year and at times it seems
the band will fall apart. Most bands don't last a year. Rarely
will you find a band that is able to stick it out for three or
four years. Even more rare are the bands like the Rolling
Stones that manage to stay together for 40 years, (although
I would argue they are probably doing it for money reasons
rather than musical reasons). Music groups are difficult to
manage. It is hard enough to find a group of people that
have the same musical taste, and even harder to find people
you can actually stand to be in the same room with. Being
in a band is like being married to four people at once. It is
not easy and my hat is off to bands that manage to keep
cranking out good music year after year. Enter the Blind
Boys of Alabama. These guys are an American institution
just as much as a musical group. They formed in 1939 at
the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind and have been
churning out the bluesy gospel melodies ever since... wait a
second while I do the math… that's 66 years! That's longer
than most of us have been alive.
The Blind Boys of Alabama are a gospel group in true form,
singing praises to Jesus with their unique style and
unmistakable harmony vocals. Go Tell It On The
Mountain is a DVD of a live concert put on by The
Blind Boys of Alabama and guests at the Beacon Theatre in
New York City the Christmas of 2003. It was at first a little
odd to think of watching a Christmas concert DVD during the
sweaty hot summer, but I quickly slipped into the Christmas
spirit as the DVD rolled. First I want to comment on the
quality of this DVD. The sound and picture is absolutely top
notch, with deep rich color and dazzling stereo sound in full
effect throughout. While the DVD is top notch in quality the
real quality comes in the performance by The Blind Boys of
Alabama. Their backing band is tight and professional, and
the old men know just how to work the crowd. I thought the
bonus features on the DVD were a little weak. The
interviews seemed like they could have been better and the
rehearsal footage, while interesting, was limited in scope.
Still, the concert footage was very good and the bonus
features did not detract from my viewing
experience.
The Blind Boys of Alabama are famous for their collaboration
with other artists. They have done shows with everyone
from Tom Waits to Ben Harper, and I wondered as I watched
whether the guest artists would be featured or play a
supporting role. It seems to me that a guest appearance by
Tom Waits should include Mr. Waits supporting The Blind
Boys of Alabama and not the other way around. I was not
disappointed with Go Tell It On The Mountain.
Guest artists include the gospel and soul great Mavis
Staples, hip-hop artist Michael Franti (Spearhead), Charlie
Musselwhite on harmonica, Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders),
Aaron Neville, Robert Randolph on pedal steel, John Medeski
on Hammond B3, and Duke Robillard on guitar.
The songs chosen for the concert were a great mix of
contemporary and classic Christmas songs and spirituals.
My favorite track was "Little Drummer Boy," featuring
Michael Franti. The words to the song were spoken freestyle
by Franti as The Blind Boys of Alabama echoed in beautiful
harmony the traditional lyrics. It was a reverent and
beautiful interpretation of a very simple song. Another great
track was The Blind Boys of Alabama's version of "Amazing
Grace," with the traditional lyrics set to the tune of Eric
Burden and the Animals' "House of the Rising Sun." When
The Blind Boys of Alabama launched into Stevie Wonder's
classic, "Higher Ground," it was the first time I ever
considered the lyrics were spiritual in nature. I was familiar
with Wonder's original version and the Red Hot Chili Peppers'
spirited cover of the tune, but The Blind Boys of Alabama
presented the tune in the way it was meant to be heard, a
song of praise. All the tracks were good with the possible
exception of the Chrissie Hynde performance of the
traditional English carol, "In the Bleak Midwinter." I felt
Hynde's performance was rather weak when compared to
the powerful and soulful singing of the other artists and
especially of The Blind Boys of Alabama themselves. I am
also not a fan of Aaron Neville's squeaky high voice, but he
nevertheless put on a good performance.
Go Tell It On The Mountain was a nice diversion
from the heat of summer and really put me in a calm
contemplative mood. The Blind Boys of Alabama are great
showmen and show what is possible when a group can stick
together over the decades. Although singing gospel praise
music, which normally turns me off, they know how to work
the crowd. The conversation between songs was playful and
inviting. At one point, bandleader, Clarence Fountain
announced that he hadn't come all the way from Alabama to
New York City to find Jesus; he had brought Jesus along with
him. The crowd loved it and seemed enchanted by every
word from The Blind Boys of Alabama. I would love to see
this group in a live setting. For now I will settle for this great
DVD and recommend it highly no matter the time of year. |
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