A few years ago, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams opened their set with their version of the old gospel song “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning.” The moment started quietly enough, with Campbell’s chicken-picked guitar in his slow blues slide […]
What an embarrassment of riches we’ve gotten in terms of new releases this season, from some of the finest artists on the scene — those who have been around for decades, and those who are just finding their footing. This […]
“You know I’m really a church singer. I may have this rock and roll, but I got to feel this thing. HALELUIAH!” That’s Mahalia Jackson, the Queen of Gospel, introducing “Keep Your Hand on the Plow” at the Newport Jazz […]
Last week I was thrilled to hear that Smithsonian Folkways — the nonprofit record label associated with America’s national museum — has acquired Arhoolie Records from Chris Strachwitz and his business partner, Tom Diamant. In keeping with Folkways’ policy, the catalog will be […]
In early 2015, Andrae Crouch died. There’s room for a good biography of Crouch, and maybe someday we’ll have one (or perhaps one is in the works, unbeknownst to me). He brought gospel music into a new age, and stands […]
