Dave's Top Eight

1. Jerry Reed...Revisited by Darrell Toney (reviewed 6/07) (5 Stars)
2. Sounds Like Sunday by Janet Paschal (reviewed 5/07) (5 Stars)
3. True To The Call by Kingdom Heirs (reviewed 3/07) (4 1/2 Stars)
4. Revival by Gold City (reviewed 10/06) (4 1/2 Stars)
5. Get Away Jordan by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (reviewed 2/07) (4 1/2 Stars)
6. Breakin' Chains by Three Bridges (reviewed 5/07) (4 1/2 Stars)
7. Big Sky by The Isaacs (reviewed 4/07)
8. Skywriting by Mercy's Well (reviewed 7/07)

Click title to purchase at CBD.com...click artist name to read Dave's Review. A CD will automatically fall out of the Top Eight after twelve months if no CD surpasses it before then.

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April 21, 2007

CD Review: Roy Webb (You Raise Me Up)

RATING: 4 1/2 Stars

Producer: Roy Webb
Co-Producer: Gordon Mote
Website: www.erniesigsound.com

Roy Webb, pianist (and cheesy joke teller) for Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, has recorded a new piano CD titled You Raise Me Up. This isn't a cheap, quick recording. With horn and string arrangements by Wayne Haun and a full complement of A-list Nashville players providing the backdrop for Webb to be spotlighted at the keys, the production quality is first class from beginning to end.

"What A Friend We Have In Jesus" gets things rolling with a light jazz feel. My favorite track is next. "Wayfaring Stranger" has a cool lick on the bass end of the piano that allows Webb to showcase his hand independence skills. The melody of "Above All" is so decorated that it may be a bit difficult to recognize at first, but the song becomes more obvious as it reaches the chorus. Webb syncopates the familiar Fanny Crosby hymn, "Tell Me The Story Of Jesus," creating another light jazz feel that matches up nicely with the opening track. The title track gets a huge orchestral intro before settling down to just piano and light orchestration. Of course, it gradually ascends back to the energy established by the intro by the end of the cut.

"Swing Low Medley" starts with just piano, mostly in the style of Ray Charles with a couple of added snatches from...I don't know...Claude Debussy? A Lari Goss track kicks the tempo up a notch after the first piano verse, then just when you think it may be over, the arrangement kicks up another notch for a verse of "Sweet Georgia Brown" before returning to "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." This addition, according to Webb's liner notes, is "just to make it more fun!" Juxtaposed immediately after this is the most meditative cut on the CD, a version of "Softly And Tenderly" that is arranged for piano only. "Just A Little Talk With Jesus" has an exciting black gospel treatment, kicking into double time before all is said and done. "People Need The Lord" is Webb's tribute to Anthony Burger, presented with a light string accompaniment, which is how Burger had told him the song should be recorded. You Raise Me Up closes out with "I Surrender All," which pairs up nicely with "Softly And Tenderly" in that the arrangement is for piano sans orchestra and has a reflective quality.

As with other piano recordings you may have heard, You Raise Me Up layers in vocal bits at times to make sure the listener knows what song is being played. I'd prefer less of this, but that's just my personal taste talking. My one genuine gripe about this recording is that Webb doesn't always fight for his spotlight. Even on sections where another instrument has the melody, he could add something that demands the listener's attention. Instead, he just plays along with simple arpeggios or light chords. On the other hand, I could also spin this aspect of the CD to Webb's credit. He's willing to share some of his limelight in order to present a project that comes across more as a team effort.

Those minor complaints aside, I'm very impressed by the overall quality of You Raise Me Up. The jazz touches are just enough to set the CD apart from the norm, not so much that any SG fans should feel alienated. Haun's orchestrations are perfect for this sort of recording, and the two cuts that feature piano alone provide a nice contrast to the rest of the CD.

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posted by David Bruce Murray @ 9:59:00 PM


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