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Ben Harper & Blind Boys...
BEN HARPER AND THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA
Live at the Apollo
Earnest neo-hippie partners with exceedingly cool sightless senior citizens at world famous theater, and magic ensues. More or less. Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama's There Will Be A Light was big stuff in '04. The outworking of that breakthrough in Americana/adult alt gospel in a live setting may work more musically than visually. There's no disputing Harper's chops, but his on stage chemistry with his soulful elders hits amd misses. Energy jumps into the red when a Blind Boy takes the mic, especially on the concluding rave-up the Porter Wagoner oldie "Satisfied Mind"; watch Blindster Jimmy Carter nearly body surf! All concerned kick it on the trad' "Mother Pray." Approproiate in its rootsiness for an episode of Austin City Limits as for the home of r&b amatuers, Live At The Apollo is still enough of a sight to behold as it is an earful to hear.
[Virgin] JAMIE LEE RAKE
©2005 HM Magazine - All Rights Reserved
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