Review: An LA-born native Californian, Albert McNeil earned Bachelors and Masters degrees at UCLA and did his doctorate studies at USC, the Westminster Choir College of Princeton and the Univ. Songlist: Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, Fix me, Jesus, The Word Was God, I Will Arise And Go To Jesus, Lit'le Lamb, Lit'le Lamb, I Know I've Been Changed, Lord, We Give Thanks To Thee, Somebody's Knockin' On Yo' Do', This Little Light Of Mine, John, The Revelator, My Long White Robe, See Datee Babe, Lit'l Boy, Wonderful Counselor 3054c | 1 CD | $14.98 | A Cappella |Īlbert McNeil Jubilee Singers : The Best Of Jubilee Authentic, timeless music sung with passion and fire by one of the great Gospel ensembles! Hogan's "Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit," Hill's "Fix Me Jesus," McLinn's "Lit'le Lamb, Lit'le Lamb," Gibbs' "Somebody's Knockin' At Yo' Do'" and "See Dat Babe," McNeil's dynamic "John the Revelator" and Hairston's joyous "Wonderful Counselor" are particularly fine. Undine Smith Moore's "Lord We Give Thanks to Thee" was written as a tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the founding of Fisk University's original Jubilee Singers. In these14 songs we have a mixture of the simplicity and complexity of arrangements by Moses Hogan, Jester Hairston, Lena McLinn and Albert McNeil, to the unique settings of young composers and arrangers like Stacey Gibbs, Richard Jackson and Augustus O. Review: The 21 mixed-voice singers of Director Albert McNeil sing the powerful, emotion-packed spirituals that have been sung, recorded, rearranged and interpreted, and re-recorded for over 150 years.
Songlist: Hee! Ba Nyoriloeng, Siya Kudumisa Thixo, Ha Kelestshe - Kele Mobe, Kenang Bohle, Kese Ke Utloile, Imfazwe Imfazwe, Amahlathi Aphelile, Mphe Maleme Ase Kete / Vuthelani Ixilongo, Jerusalem Ikhaya Lam, Masibulele Ku Jesu, Bawo Ndingu Mntwana Wakho, Seteng Sediba Samadi, Rea Oboka Morena, Wakrazulwa Ngenxa Yami, Noyana, Ingoma Ka Ntsikana, Nkosi Sikelel'i Afrika 9934c | 1 CD | $15.95 | | African Choral MusicĪlbert McNeil Jubilee Singers : Best of Jubilee Vol 2 That`s even there on the by-now famous `Nkosi Sikelel`i Afrika,` the country`s very hymn-like national anthem, performed here as the closer, full-voiced and glorious, sung with unconcealed pride and joy. It`s majestic, but that`s the intent, a nexus between Europe and Africa, meeting in Christianity. There`s a sense of control about it all, even when a speaking voice breaks in on `Jerusalem Ikhaya Lam,` for instance, or on the rare occasions when some very spare percussion accompanies the a cappella voices. The harmonies might have their written roots in Europe, but the voices singing them are ineffably African, bringing something different to the sound. But unlike, say, American or Jamaican gospel, there`s a sense of unity, rather than testifying the voices embrace this music, but they sing it as it is, rather than using it as a lift-off point to testify. Unlike so many hymns, these are performed with great, roaring joy (arranged for the most part by Louw) and recorded-as it should be-in a church.
Review: Handpick singers from a number of South African choirs, put the excellent Mara Louw out in front as the lead, take a number of hymns they all know from church, as well as the South African national anthem, and you have the ingredients for this excellent disc. African Methodist Choir with Mara Louw : African Hymns