The Blind Boys of Alabama, Doing the Lord`s Work thru Song

The Blind Boys of Alabama played the AVO sessions with Ruthie Foster and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the AVO sessions on Wednesday Oct 28.  TES's Louise Haughton and Maria Silkey were there.

So let's just get this straight. The Blind Boys of Alabama are hot.

Sixty-five years on the road, they are an institution and they are at the top of their game.  Never straying from the traditional gospel format - call and response, delicate poly synchrony - they have,  though a clever  a series of collaborations with artists of other genres, managed to reach an ever wider audience.

Last night`s performance at the AVO sessions made it clear why - they have  a stage presence  that I`ve rarely felt,  and one that was not obvious as they were led to the stage.   Once they started singing though, it was game over.   Lead vocalist Jimmy Carter had the audience eating out of his hands, and on their feet clapping, only minutes into their short set.

Austin-based blues and folk singer  Ruthie Foster opened the show with an extensive set - in particular, she gave powerful renditions of Lucinda Williams Fruits of my Labor,"Sung in the people's key of C", and of Patty Griffin's When it Don't come Easy.  She finished off with a moving encore of the Duhks' Death came a calling (Travelling Shoes).  It's clear she's earned her reputation as a stalwart of the Austin Texas folk scene.

The  Preservation Hall Jazz Band came next with New Orleans style jazz, not my favorite music style, I`ll admit, but I enjoyed them and the audience certainly was engaged.   Classics such as I wish I could Shimmy like my Sister Kate and Sugar Blues were delivered with gusto.

With two acts up front, The Blind Boys didn`t take the stage till very late.  As good as the front acts were, the contrast was palpable.   I don't know if they called the Holy Spirit down that night but something sort of like that must have happened - at least I'd call it a miracle if anyone can get the entire audience from the AVO sessions on their feet clapping and singing in less than 10 minutes.  In reserved and polite Switzerland, that definitely counts as a wonder.

Earlier that afternoon, Avo Organizer  Beatrice Stirnimann and Maria met with Ricky McKinnie, drummer, vocalist and road manager for The Blind Boys of Alabama. This is the third time the Blind Boys have come to Basel with the AVO sessions.  Click here to listen to that interview. The Blind Boys have released an album just this week, called Duets. Click here to listen to Ricky McKinnie describe what's on that album. 

Maria thanks Jeffrey Day and Sharon Alexander for their insights in preparing for the interview, and Linh Nguyen and Jeremy Dickson for logistical support.