The Blind Boys Of Alabama

The Blind Boys Of Alabama
www.blindboys.com | www.rosebudus.com

From official bio : "For over 60 years, the Blind Boys of Alabama have traversed "higher ground" together. Since forming their group at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind (Talladega Blind School) in 1939, they have kept alive the spirit and energy of pure soul gospel music. Founding members Clarence Fountain, Jimmy Carter and George Scott -- along with more recent arrivals Joey Williams, Ricky McKinnie and Bobby Butler -- have drawn upon gospel's river-deep reflections on life's trials, and mastered its haunting falsettos and vibrant, muscular harmonies. And at ages when most men have retired from life's spotlight, they continue to command the music's heart-pounding vigor as meditation erupts into foot-stomping, rollicking celebration.
Remarkably, the Blind Boys not only represent the highest standard of a charismatic American musical tradition -- they also extend that tradition. Gospel has always nourished blues, rhythm-and-blues and rock’n’roll, so it seems only natural for the Blind Boys to have found a calling in transforming popular song back into consecrated writ.
That’s been a favored aspect of the group’s albums and concerts in recent years. Since first reaching toward a wider audience with their roles in the 1983 production of "The Gospel at Colonnus", (Bob Telson and Lee Breuer’s Obie Award-winning Off-Broadway and Broadway smash), the singers have repeatedly reinvented material associated with artists from the world beyond the church. They’ve transformed Bob Dylan ("I Believe in You") and Richard Thompson ("Dimming of the Day"), illuminating the spiritual message inherent in these soul-searching songs. On last year’s Grammy Award-winning “Spirit of the Century” (Real World), they applied that same knack to an eclectic array of tunes drawn from the Rolling Stones, Tom Waits and Ben Harper, with a band that boasted such potent instrumentalists as blues guitarist John Hammond, string maestro David Lindley and harp virtuoso Charlie Musselwhite."

Spirit of the century
2001 - Real World Records
Grammy Award du meilleur album de Soul Gospel

05 - Give A Man A Home
Paroles et musique : Ben Harper

Clarence Fountain: Lead - Jimmy Carter, George Scott, Joey Williams: Choeurs - Michael Jerome: Batterie - David Lindley: Guitare slide électrique - Charlie Musselwhite: Harmonica - Danny Thompson: Basse.

Produit par John Chelew - Enregistré par Larry Hirsch à Capitol Studio B, Los Angeles, USA. 21-24 Mars 2000.

2001 - Solid Productions, LLC and The Blind Boys Of Alabama / 2001 - Real World Records Ltd

From official website : "The Blind Boys’ willingness to work with artists from the world of contemporary rock music marks a refreshing openness, and Ben Harper’s presence on several tracks is a prime example. "The performance of the song 'Higher Ground' is so amazing, says producer John Chelew, who returned to guide the sessions after his previous work on 'Spirit of the Century'. "There was some great guitar interaction between Ben and Robert on the tune. It sounds like something off a Cream record. Ben’s got a very psychedelic sound, and there’s Robert, playing like he’s off in the Florida Everglades, just grooving. It was a big jam."

Haut : Bobby Butler, Ben Harper, Joe Williams.
Milieu : George Scott, Clarence Fountain, Jimmy Carter, Ricky McKinnie.
Bas : Robert Randolph.
photo © Robert Leslie Dean

Higher Ground
2002 - Real World Records
Grammy Award du meilleur album de Soul Gospel

01. People Get Ready (Curtis Mayfield) - interprété avec Ben Harper, voix et guitares, et Leon Mobley aux percussions.

07. Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder) - interprété avec Ben Harper, guitare sur le canal de droite, guitare wah-wah, et Leon Mobley aux percussions.

08. Freedom Road (traditionnel) - interprété avec Ben Harper, guitares et Leon Mobley aux percussions.

09. I May Not Can See - interprété avec Leon Mobley aux percussions.

10. You and Your Folks/23rd psalm (George Clinton) - interprété avec Leon Mobley aux percussions.

11. I Shall Not Walk Alone
Paroles et musique : Ben Harper

Clarence Fountain: Lead Vocal - Jimmy Carter, George Scott, Joey Williams, Ricky McKinnie, Bobby Butler: Vocals. On all tracks Blinds Boys are backed by "Robert Randolph and The Family Band".

Produit par John Chelew - Producteur exécutif: Chris Goldsmith - Enregistré et mixé par Jimmy Hoyson à Capitol Studio 'B', Los Angeles.

2002 - Solid Productions, LLC and The Blind Boys Of Alabama

The Blind Boys Of Alabama / Ben Harper Live
Source : benharper.net

05/03/01 - State Palace Theater: New Orleans, LA
Invités surprise, The Blind Boys of Alabama rejoignent Ben sur scène pour interpréter "Nobody's Fault But Mine" et "I Shall Not Walk Alone".

05/26/01 - Greek Theatre: Berkeley, CA
Invités surprise, The Blind Boys of Alabama rejoignent Ben sur scène pour interpréter "I Want to be Ready", "Give a Man a Home" et "I Shall Not Walk Alone."

05/27/01 - County Bowl: Santa Barbara, CA
The Blind Boys of Alabama rejoignent une nouvelle fois Ben pour "I Want to be Ready", "Give a Man a Home" et "I Shall Not Walk Alone."

05/28/01 - RIMAC Field, UCSD: La Jolla, CA
"I Want to be Ready" et "I Shall Not Walk Alone". Les Blind Boys interprètent avec la ferveur du Gospel, "Give a Man a Home".

07/18/01 - Arenes de Nimes: Nimes, France
Les Blind Boys of Alabama assurent la première partie de Ben.
Ils rejoignent Ben pour "Give a Man a Home" et "I Shall Not Walk Alone".

07/19/01 - Les Arenes: Bayonne, France - CANCELLED
Les Blind Boys of Alabama en première partie de Ben.

notes: Le concert est annulé à cause des conditions météo.

03 mai 2001 - 26 mai 2001 - 28 mai 2001 - 18 juillet 2001
photo © benharper.net / evil vince - cliquez sur les vignettes

The Blinds Boys sur le DVD "Pleasure And Pain"

| plus d'infos

Bonus > Live Tracks

Give A Man A Home
Filmé en studio - Voix: Ben Harper (lead) - The Blind Boys Of Alabama (George Scott, Clarence Fountain - lead, Jimmy Carter, Joey Williams). Weissenborn "Teardrop": Ben Harper, Basse : Juan Nelson, Claviers : unknown.
Réalisateur, Producteur, Editeur : Matt Bass - Producteur exécutif: Michael Zakin - Juin 2002.

I Shall Not Walk Alone
Filmé en studio - Voix: Ben Harper (lead) - The Blind Boys Of Alabama (George Scott, Clarence Fountain - lead, Jimmy Carter, Joey Williams) - Guitare acoustique: Ben Harper.
Réalisateur, Producteur, Editeur : Matt Bass - Producteur exécutif: Michael Zakin - Juin 2002.

:: www.swer.net :: 1999-2006 | crédits |