Out of sight
The Blind Boys Of Alabama are captured in all their glory in new DVD, Live In New Orleans... By staff reporter - 05/05/09
Since 1939, The Blind Boys Of Alabama have been peddling their fervent mix of traditional and contemporary gospel music.
In the seven decades they have been around, of course, a lot has happened. The
line-up l has changed, different musical styles have come and gone, 78 RPMs have given way to LPs which have given way to eight-tracks, to cassettes and now CDs.
One of the longest-running groups in the world, their fans – which at the beginning were fiercely restricted to gospel music venues – are now as global and eclectic as the band themselves, and their repertoire has widened to include secular as well as spiritual numbers, albeit secular with a strong spiritual core.
Their now global staying-power is evident in the group’s four Grammy wins, an awards ceremony that didn’t even exist when the boys began playing!
At the 2009 Grammy ceremonies they capped off their incredible reputation by receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award.
One man has been there from the beginning, and that is Jimmy Carter.
Now the frontman of the outfit, Carter leads his men with passion and conviction, and also that touch of gravitas that befits an elder statesman of gospel.
He may be a figure that commands huge respect, but that hasn’t stopped Carter and co. playing around with the possibilities of music.
Hence the Bind Boys’ decision to record a new concert DVD companion to their Grammy-nominated album Down in New Orleans.
Filmed at the legendary Crescent City club Tipitina’s during the 2008 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, The Live in New Orleans DVD – out now – is an uplifting fusion of gospel, blues and soul.
The band's rousing performance includes favorites like 'Free At Last', 'Down By The Riverside', 'Amazing Grace' and 'People Get Ready'. Special guest performances include Susan Tedeschi, Dr. John, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Henry Butler and Marva Wright.
Speaking about their adventures new release, Carter said: “This particular flavour is new for us. We’ve never recorded in New Orleans. We’ve had it in our minds to work there for a while, and we decided to do it now to support New Orleans while they rebuild after the hurricane.
"I can’t get up on a ladder and hammer nails, but me and the guys can sing inspirational songs that will help lift people’s hearts while they hammer nails.”
Lift people’s hearts is right; I saw these guys in action a couple of years ago at a music festival in Ireland, and they were a revelation to many.
Young and old who didn’t think they’d be into gospel were dancing along to them beaming.
A heart-warming discovery, they will be for you too if you’ve yet to come across them.
For more info, visit www.blindboys.com.
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