Interesting release and quite a story - needless to say we are on the case at Sonic Bandwagon and will be laying a track or two over the coming weeks. Multi-award winning American vocalist Grace Griffith defies advanced Parkinson’s disease to release first album of new material in 8 years. ‘Passing Through’ released 26th January 2015 on Blix Street Records Graces album is so good it almost brought me to tears. Emmylou Harris After years in the making, Passing Through, the new album by acclaimed American vocalist Grace Griffith, will be released in 2015. Due to the degenerative effects of Grace’s seventeen year battle with Parkinson’s Disease, the album took more than two years to painstakingly record. The result is a hauntingly poignant collection of beautiful folk and Celtic songs. “Music has always been a focal point in my life. I get pleasure and peace from music. Since Parkinson’s Disease has come to live with me, music has become more important than ever.” Grace’s previous album, Sailing, a retrospective of her Blix Street recordings, was released in 2010 to coincide with her appearance at the World Parkinson’s Congress, held that year in Glasgow. At the time, even Grace herself did not know if she would ever again record new material. Passing Through is a testament to her love of music and the love and support of her husband, friends and the local musical community. As on Grace’s other albums, her heart and spirit shine through; Passing Through is a testament to her unflinching tenacity. “No one talked Grace back into the studio,” says Grace’s musical partner Marcy Marxer. “If anything, we knew how hard it was going to be for her. The album’s producers Chris Biondo and Lenny Williams, along with myself, made it possible for her to do it. Chris saw it through and edited it together, and what he did is difficult, heroic and brilliant.” Grace’s friend Cathy Fink adds, “Chris opened his studio whenever Grace wanted; they had a standing appointment on Saturday mornings. Chris donated his time and expertise and has been an integral part of ‘Team Grace.’ Over the course of two years, he got out of Grace whatever she could give at that point: from a word or a sentence to a full song. Then he spent hours working to piece it together for the album.” Indeed, Biondo assembled the best elements of multiple, sometimes laborious studio performances to ensure the result measured up to Grace’s best. Many musicians, including pianists Lenny Williams and Paul Nahay, guitarists Al Petteway and Richard Miller and bassist Biondo, contributed to post-vocal track arrangements that are suitably subtle with Grace’s vocals always center stage. The songs that comprise Passing Through span many centuries, continents and styles. Their overarching theme mirrors life’s complex richness and revelations as observed by someone who has had to deal with more than her share of trials, but never lost touch with the love and truth of the universe. While Grace does not write her own material, she chose the songs in this collection with a deep awareness of their meaning and power. “Life is a celebration, and we’re lucky to be here,” says Grace. “Music has always been a focal point in my life. I get pleasure and peace from music. Since Parkinson’s Disease has come to live with me, music has become more important than ever.” Graces voice and song selection are stellar. The performances are so moving. Linda Ronstadt “Every now and then, an album comes along that I find I listen to almost compulsively. It’s rare because it needs the recording to contain the perfect songs, performed the right way and presented in a flowing order among other attributes. Grace Griffith’s Passing Through is one such album.” Irish Edition “The result is an album that combines a stunning voice with a haunting collection of folk and Celtic material that once you begin to play you never wish it to end.” Russell Trunk’s Exclusive Magazine “This is a singer who brings everything to her performances – gentility, emotion and passion.” popdose “Griffith has a voice that reaches hearts with an almost mystical touch.” blogcritics.org For more information please contact [email protected] / 020 3213 0135
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 10:30:56 +0000
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