****
On September 24, 2017 a number of artists led by Andrew Peterson and Ben Shive gathered at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Rich Mullins. They performed a note-for-note concert of Mullins’ best album, A Liturgy, a Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band, complete with strings, special guests, and an appreciative audience.
Peterson and friends followed a concert format that he has used over the years on his Behold The Lamb of God Christmas tour. The first half of the concert had each of the guest artists sing a Mullins song of their choice, with Peterson singing a few of his own choices in along the way.
The first half set list:
Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:
- More of this review and a review of Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge by Van Morrison
- Music News
- Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Taste and See (The Love of Christ) by Bryan Fowler and Matt Maher
- Hello Old Friends – Andrew Peterson
- Awesome God – Audience
- Calling Out Your Name – Andrew Peterson
- Boy Like Me/Man Like You – Andrew Peterson
- You Did Not Have A Home – Finnegan Bell
- The Howling – Jeremy Casella
- Cry The Name – Jill Phillips
- Hard to Get – Andy Gullahorn
- What Susan Said – Andrew Osenga
- Buenos Noches from Nacogdoches – Leigh Nash
- Elijah – Matt Giraud
- The Good Confession – Andrew Peterson
- If I Stand – Andrew Peterson
The second half of the concert brought each of those artists back out to perform note-for-note versions of each song from Mullins’ album A Liturgy, A Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band. A string section played the original string charts as provided by Rich’s producer Reed Arvin (who himself was present and played the piano on “Creed” midway through the second half).
The second half setlist:
- Here In America – Andrew Peterson
- 52:10 – Jill Phillips
- The Color Green – Andrew Peterson
- Hold Me Jesus – Brandon Heath
- Creed – Andrew Peterson, Andy Gullahorn and Jill Phillips
- Pass the Peace – Andy Gullahorn
- 78 Eatonwood Green – Gabe Scott on the hammered dulcimer
- Hard – Finnegan Bell
- I’ll Carry On – Jeremy Casella
- You Gotta Get Up – Leigh Nash
- How To Grow Up Big and Strong – Andrew Osenga
- Land of My Sojourn – Andrew Peterson
After the completion of A Liturgy, A Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band all of the musicians are back for “Sometimes by Step”, featuring Skye Peterson and “I See You” featuring Andrew Peterson. The concert ended with the “Doxology”.
I really enjoyed this album. It will be loved by fans of Rich Mullins’ music and those who enjoy Andrew Peterson’s music.
*** ½
Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge is the 80-year-old legend Van Morrison’s forty-eighth studio album and the seventh he has already released this decade. This time, Morrison turns his attention to the blues, the genre that inspired him to start singing as a teenager.
The album, which was produced by Morrison, includes twenty songs, mostly blues covers from artists such as Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Fats Domino, Willie Dixon, B.B. King and others. Four of the songs are Morrison originals (“Social Climbing Scene”, “Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge”, “Monte Carlo Blues”, and “Loving Memories”). The album clocks in at just under eighty minutes. Guests on the album include Elvin Bishop (six songs), Taj Mahal (four songs), and Buddy Guy (two songs).
In addition to Morrison on lead vocals, harmonica and sax, the band includes David Hayes on bass, Larry Vann and Bobby Ruggiero on drums, Anthony Paule on electric blues guitar, Mitch Woods on piano, and John Allair on Hammond organ and B3, and vocals. Backing vocals are by Omega Rae Brooks and Larry Batiste.
The album sounds like a live session jam session, as Morrison is in his element, and seems to be having a great time on these songs. There are many highlights on this collection, with some of my favorites being “Kidney Stew Blues”, “Loving Memories” (featuring Elvin Bishop), “Play the Honky Tonks” (featuring Elvin Bishop), and “I’m Ready” (featuring Buddy Guy). I thoroughly enjoyed this new blues album.
- Phil Wickham and Crowder: It Really Is Amazing Grace – Song Session. Here is an acoustic version of “It Really Is Amazing Grace” by Phil Wickham and Crowder from Essential Worship.
- He Arose. Here is the video for “He Arose” by Tommee Profitt and Phil Wickham.
- The Times They Are A-Changin’. Sandra McCracken covers the classic Bob Dylan song “The Times They Are a-Changin’”.
- The Season of the Long Surrender. NEEDTOBREATHE has released a nearly twenty-minute documentary, The Season of The Long Surrender. Babysweet helped tell the story of what the band’s new album The Long Surrenderhas meant to them in the time they spent creating it.
- God is Good. Here is the joyful video for “God is Good” by Phil Wickham and CAIN.
- Check out We The Kingdom and Chris Tomlin’s new song “Holiness”.
This week’s song of the week is from two of my favorite artists – Bryan Fowler and Matt Maher. They co-wrote “Taste and See (The Love of Christ)”. What the video for the song here.
Son of God and Son of man
Word enveloped in our skin
Known in all ways but our sin
Savior we remember
Walked the way of suffering
A cross that cost Him everything
What could match His offering
Praise His name forever
Come to the altar
Feast without price
Drink from the blessing cup
Break the bread of life
In Him we live and never die
Taste and see the love of Christ
Buried in a darkened grave
Resurrected in three days
Reigning on the throne of grace
Savior we remember
He will come upon the clouds
Soon with mighty trumpet sounds
Every knee on Earth will bow
Praise His name forever
Come to the altar
Feast without price
Drink from the blessing cup
Break the bread of life
In Him we live and never die
Taste and see the love of Christ
Oh, the love of Christ
How marvelous, how wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvelous, how wonderful
Is my Savior’s love for me
How marvelous, how wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvelous, how wonderful
Is my Savior’s love for me
Won’t you come to the altar
Feast without price
Come and drink from the blessing cup
Break the bread of life
In Him we live and never die
Taste and see the love of Christ
Taste and see the love of Christ
Taste and see the love of Christ
