Personnel: Aaron Neville (vocals); Anamaria Brandon, Stacy Chamblin, Greta Hardey, Jennifer Kuylen, Margann Turnipseed, Michelle Zeller (vocals); James Harrah, Greg Liesz (guitar); Blue Miller (acoustic guitar); Dean Parks, Shane Theriot (electric guitar); Sid Page, Judith Armistead, Burton Callahan, John Chung Law, Oskar Ozolinch (violin); Lauren Lemmier, Richard Woehrie (viola); Jonathan Gerhardt (cello); Jim Horn, David Woodford (saxophone); Sam Levine, Charles Neville (tenor saxophone); Steve Patrick (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Jarvis (piano, keyboards); Jim Cox (Wurlitzer piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Greg Phillinganes, Michael Goods (keyboards); Freddie Washington, Michael Rhodes (bass guitar); James Gadson, Eddie Bayers, Brian McCloud (drums); Mark Beckett (percussion); Darryl Phinnesse, Jacquelyn Gouche Farris, Jim Gilstrap, Alex Brown, Maxi Anderson, Alvin Chea, Mona Lisa Young, Phil Perry, Bridget Fiddmont (background vocals).
Recording information: Ultrasonic Studios, New Orleans, Louisiana (2003); Village Recorders, Los Angeles, CA; Soundcastle Studios, Silverlake, California.
Ensembles: Dirty Dozen Brass Band; Sandtown Children's Choir.
A husky man with the voice of a fluttering bird, Aaron Neville is one of America's most acclaimed male pop singers. Not surprisingly, he is also a tremendously gifted and dedicated gospel singer, and GOSPEL ROOTS presents Neville performing many well-known devotional songs, in addition to pop tunes that lend themselves well to spiritual interpretations.
A two-disc set, this uplifting outing celebrates life and God more than it proselytizes. In fact, GOSPEL ROOTS is a gentle, relaxing record that avoids over-the-top piousness. From the opening track, "Oh Happy Day," to the Bob Dylan classic "I Shall Be Released" to the archetypal "Amazing Grace," Neville hypnotizes listeners with his delicate vocals, employing a gorgeous falsetto on all 25 tracks. Whether interpreting the classical "Ave Maria" or the Beatles ballad "Let It Be," Neville invokes the true beauty and splendor of each selection. A serene, mellow release, GOSPEL ROOTS crosses stylistic boundaries with its varied set list, but it always remains true to the gospel tradition.
