#2625: Extreme Spirituals

There's gospel singing in a new music context on this edition of New Sounds. Hear some extreme spirituals - rearranged, well known African-American spirituals and 19th century art songs - from the Boston-based chamber rock band Birdsongs of the Mesozoic, in collaboration with Oral Moses. The resulting music is an unorthodox but deeply moving blend of Birdsongs' punk-proggy art rock instrumentation together with the strong and majestic voice of Oral Moses. We'll also listen to the intersection of Jewish music and Black spirituals from the Klezmatics release, "Brother Moses Smote the Water," a team effort with African-American gospel singer Joshua Nelson. Hear age-old Hebrew Passover songs, Nelson’s own brand of “kosher gospel,” and traditional Yiddish Klezmatic anthems, some featuring jazz singer/organist Kathryn Farmer. Plus, music by Bob Telson, Joel Chadabe, and others.

PROGRAM # 2625, Extreme Gospel (First aired on 1/5/07)

ARTIST(S)	RECORDING	CUT(S)	SOURCE
Uri Caine	The Goldberg Variations	Blessings variations [1:30]	Winter & Winter #910054 www.winterandwinter.com
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic w/ Oral Moses	Extreme Spirituals	I'm A Rollin' [5:30]	Cuneiform #241 www.cuneiformrecords.com *
Klezmatics w/Joshua Nelson	Brother Moses Smote the Water	Elijah Rock [9:00]	Piranha #1896 www.piranha.de
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic w/ Oral Moses	Extreme Spirituals	Swing Low, Sweet Chariot [4:00]	See above.
Bob Telson	The Gospel At Colonus	A Voices Foretold [6:30] Now Let The Weeping Cease [3:00]	Nonesuch #79191 www.nonesuch.com*
Uri Caine	The Goldberg Variations	The Nobody Knows Variation [4:00]	See above.
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic w/ Oral Moses	Extreme Spirituals	A Little More Faith In Jesus [5:30] Oh Freedom [4:30]	See above.
Joel Chadabe	Settings for Spirituals	A City Called Heaven [2:00]	Lovely Music #1302 www.lovely.com