Where words don't succeed, music speaks and it was the Blind Boys of Alabama who have a spiritual agreement through soulful harmonies to honor God and the permissible delights of each individuals soul. The Blind Boys are on the brink of a new album release titled "Duets" which includes collaborations with such music icons as Lou Reed, John Hammond, Jr., and Toots Hibbert. The album also includes feature performances with Ben Harper, Timothy B. Schmitt, Randy Travis, Bonnie Raitt, and Jars of Clay. The album will undoubtedly lead the group to its sixth grammy award and continue to give the Blind Boys of Alabama the vision of making a broken world a better place through their music. Joey Williams, Blind Boys Guitarist, called me three hours before show time to join him at the show. Without a second to waste I jumped into my car and raced (55 MPH) to the City Winery in New York City.
My friends, as I have mentioned in past articles, you will never ever have a full understanding of the treasures that are hidden in New York City because as soon as you think you have seen every venue and been to every restaurant you are smacked in the face by, yet, another venue that out does the last one. Let me tell you that the City Winery is my new "King of the Mountain." The sound, the atmosphere, and the staff provide you with a truly rich, tasty, and impressionable experience that has exceeded my expectations. The venue prides itself on the original private label wines that are made on location and the menu which diagrams which wines will accompany your chosen dish best, but enough about the food and venue. The Blind Boys of Alabama were bringing their Sunday best out tonight headlining a double bill with good friend John Hammond, Jr..
John Hammond, Jr. opened the evening with an acoustic set of his blues music that reflected on his exposure to such influential artists as Muddy Waters , John Lee Hooker, and Duane Allman. His barrelhouse singing style captures your attention and digs deep into your imagination of days gone by and the ties those days have on the day at hand. His commercial success maybe moderate but his fans are strong and dedicated. He has earned the respect from the likes of Robbie Robertson, Charlie Musselwhite, and other musicians who he has contributed his talents to. From coffeehouses to major venues, festivals to major tours, John Hammond has shared over forty years of playing the blues, folk and rock music to the world. His love for playing is how he has been able to continue his success and it's his life. His latest album titled "Rough and Tough" is his thirty-second album since his initial release in 1962. The recording of the album is historical in itself because it was recorded in St. Peter's Church in New York City due to the acoustics that the Episcopal church contains.
Tonight's performance highlighted John's best songs and showcased his ability to transition easily between his National Steel and Stubbs 6-String guitars all the while singing and playing the harmonica. The Grammy winner and four-time nominee, unleashed his acoustic river flow with beauty. His persistence to play the blues, as he did this night, attracts young artists such as a young German man who just moved from Germany to achieve his own American dream of being a successful musician. John's talent and technique are unique to his authenticity and anyone who loves blues music will find John traditional to the definition of blues. His respect to the blues is inevitable and because of his dedication the art of playing the blues is inherent.
As quick as John Hammond walked on stage it seemed his set was over, and the excitement began to build again with anticipation of the headliners. The current opened and from out of the corner came Jimmy Carter, Billy Bowers, Ricky McKinnie, and Ben Moore hand over shoulder and one behind the other in a parade of the blind leading the blind. The beauty of their entrance was how without sight they sense how much they bring to people who are blind in their own ways and proving that you don't have to see in order to visualize beauty. What the Blind Boys lack in physical vision they capture and express more so through their four working senses and it was handed to the audience when Jimmy Carter grabbed his mic and shook the room with his raspy voice and raw emotions.
The night included performances of "Perfect Peace," Take My Hand," "Amazing Grace," and "Free At Last" and other classic hits. Jimmy, Ben, and Billy sat front row in incredibly robust pinstripe suits and the dark glasses which brand their unique gift to deliver new insight to those who think they can see. I shared my table with a woman who, like me, felt a change in my soul thanks to our first revival and introduction to Blind Boy Baptism. The power of God raised the boys from their seats and a concerned Joey Williams frantically worked to control the situation by tapping the shoulders of each singing member to sit, but the song kept the men standing up and shaking the goodness of the glory out from their contained bodies and the audience felt the good and plenty pouring out as came off their seats during the high energy performance of "Free at Last." Jimmy Carter even found his way off the stage and into the audience who all reached out to get one touch of Jimmy's healing powers. When the song was over and the members were tightly gathered on stage, the night exhaled and I found myself thinking to myself what a day I had.
What started off as an unpredictable day made complete sense to me. You can't control the world and what life has planned for you because at the end of the day you may think you can see what will happen next, but a blind man from Alabama may just prove to you that you really can't see any more then he can and with that I found with in me to not predict the future and to accept that life will continue to unfold it's story and I'm to just live each day better then the last. I found a bible verse that would sum up my night with the Blind Boys of Alabama and it goes something like this.
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery for the blind, to set the pressed free." In my perspective tonight the Spirit was in the City Winery and in the state that our economy has fallen into I have some news to the poor. The Blind Boys of Alabama are here to remind you to be free, to see the meaning of life, and to enjoy what you have now and not what you don't have tomorrow. Listen to the music, go see one of their shows, and rediscover your soul because this is a revival you are not going to want to miss.
