From Earth to Heaven

Description

Nominated for two Wammies! From Earth to Heaven is The Jones Familys long-awaited follow-up to its critically acclaimed debut album, Unquiet. FolkWax says, This seminal album of heaven-sent harmonies and expert musicianship is one of the best CDs to come across my desk in a very long time. The songs on From Earth to Heaven range from the secular to the sacred and from the traditional to the contemporary. All have The Jones Familys unique stamp: tight harmonies, soaring solos, and tasteful instrumentation. On the traditional side, Chenoas stunning lead vocal in the slowed-down sea chantey The Wild Goose, accompanied by Joseph Cunliffe on flute, gets the CD off to a perfect start. Two traditional hymns, I Will Guide Thee and Wondrous Love, show off the familys exquisite harmonies. The percussion on the latter song will delight all but shaped-note purists. Chuck sings lead on the chantey Bold Riley, backed up by what the CD notes call the Extended Jones Family Choir. This ensemble also backs up Chenoa on the little-heard drinking song Toddling Home. The Joneses ease with a cappella singing is amply demonstrated by the traditional Thousands or More. And Chuck adds unexpected depths to the prodigal son story of Wild Rover, assisted by Robert Spatess superb fiddle work. Songs by contemporary singer-songwriters are also well represented on From Earth to Heaven. Richard Thompsons Poor Ditching Boy and Leonard Cohens Hallelujah give Chuck two opportunities to explore the perplexing nature of romantic love. Chenoa, accompanied by Chuck on the piano, does full justice to the aching sadness of Sarah McLachlans Angel. Brenda has the lead vocal for a change on Jean Ritchies Whatll I Do With the Baby-O, which features a discussion on child care that most parents wouldnt want to overhear. (Throw her out the window is one of the milder suggestions.) An entirely different mood is created by David Byrnes Dream Operator, featuring Chuck on real and toy pianos. The CD is brought to a quiet close with Crossing the Bar, with words from a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson and with an incomparably beautiful melody by Rani Arbo, formerly of the group Salamander Crossing. In sum, From Earth to Heaven is an outstanding second CD by an ensemble that FolkWax called staggeringly talented and that caused Sing Out! To exclaim, All hail the family band!