State Of Grace

Performer: The Holmes Brothers
Engineer: Hector Catillo; Hector Castillo; Matthew Cullen; Matt Cullen; Stephanie Dufresne
Producer: Craig Street; Craig Street
Distributor: Ryko Distribution

Notes: The Holmes Brothers: Sherman Holmes (electric bass); Popsy Dixon (drums); Glenn Patscha, Larry Campbell, Wendell Holmes. Personnel: Glenn Patscha (vocals, guitar, accordion, piano, organ, pump organ, background vocals); Wendell Holmes (vocals, guitar); Levon Helm (vocals, mandolin, drums, snare drum); Popsy Dixon (vocals, drums, snare drum, percussion); Amy Helm, Joan Osborne, Fiona McBain, Catherine Russell (vocals, background vocals); Rosanne Cash, Sherman Holmes (vocals); Chris Bruce, Craig Street, John Leventhal (guitar); Larry Campbell (mandolin, fiddle); Byron Isaacs (upright bass, background vocals); Colby Rose Street (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Hector Catillo; H�ctor Castillo. Recording information: Allaire Studios, Shokan, NY; Looking Glass Studios, New York, NY. The long-running vocal trio the Holmes Brothers has been mixing up a potent blend of R&B, blues, gospel, and country since 1980. This sympathetic, raw-sounding production features a wide-ranging collection of songs by artists like Nick Lowe, Rick Nielsen, Lyle Lovett, and George Jones, as well as by the Brothers themselves. Led by Wendell Holmes, the band's trademark harmonies soar on cuts like Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding," Jones's "Ain't It Funny What a Fool Will Do," and their own gospel-infused "Standing in the Need of Love." The disc also features a charming Cajun version of John Fogerty's "Bad Moon Rising." Guests include Joan Osborne, Rosanne Cash, and the Band's Levon Helm.

Rolling Stone (p.67) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "This veteran trio from Virginia makes fervent country soul from the John Fogerty, Lyle Lovett and Nick Lowe songbooks..." Down Beat (p.60) - "Vocals ring loud and clear throughout the program....They proffer a signature three-part harmony adaptation of the classic gospel quartet style..." Dirty Linen (p.80) - "The combination of entwined vocals and recreated songs adds up to a quietly enthralling album." No Depression (p.86) - "[The songs] showcase not only the vocal grit of Wendell Holmes, but his under-heralded guitar playing as well. The result is one terrific album."

Guitarist/singer Wendell Holmes and his bass-playing brother Sherman hailed from Christchurch, VA and played as sidemen in a variety of bands for years before moving to New York City in the early '80s and starting their own group with drummer/singer Popsy Dixon. Together, they melded blues, soul, gospel, and even country into their own unique style, trademarked by Popsy's soul falsetto and Wendell's terse guitar style. True to their eclectic interests, they've recorded full albums of gospel and soul as well as their usual bluesy fare, and have established themselves as one of the finest contemporary blues acts, keeping especially busy on the international festival circuit.

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