By Kira Grunenberg | Published October 2019
As humble as the music on Work To Do is, and as pure as the a capella singing sounds, this recording shines because of the seemingly disparate performers and musics collected here.
Folksy singer-songwriter Marc Cohn teaming with the Blind Boys Of Alabama gives riveting, new life to the 10 songs collected here. And though “Walking In Jerusalem,” a tune that predates the vocal group’s founding, regularly occupies the Blind Boys’ live sets, reshaping the arrangement for a more bluesy and vocally relaxed performance opens a path for an exploration of the song’s historically rich roots. To hear the collective also include a performance of “Amazing Grace” set to the despondent melody of “House Of The Rising Sun” again shows a unique open mindedness, one befitting this collaborative effort.
Understanding that gospel material made an impression on the Cleveland-born Cohn early in his career only adds to the layered value of Work To Do, and makes its success seem almost unsurprising.
Work To Do: Walking In Jerusalem; Talk Back Mic; Work To Do; Ghost Train; Baby King; Listening To Levon; Silver Thunderbird; Amazing Grace; Walking In Memphis; One Safe Place. (51:28)
Personnel: Marc Cohn, vocals, piano; Jimmy Carter, Ben Moore, Paul Beasley, vocals; Eric “Ricky” McKinnie, vocals, drums; Joey Williams, guitar, vocals; Stephen Raynard Ladson, Tony Garnier, bass; Peter Levin, organ; John Leventhal, guitar (2), piano, organ (3), drums; Randall Bramblett, keyboards; Joe Bonadio, percussion.
