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Fall 2007:
Ceili Rain,
John Angotti, Alma
DeRojas, Kristin Fisher |
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Summer 2007: Popple, Chris Padgett, Kitty
Cleveland, Last Day |
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Spring 2007: Popple, Chris Padgett, Kitty
Cleveland, Last Day |
Winter
2006: Catholic Music 2007, Amanda
Vernon, Marie Bellet, Mair Rathburn,
Bethany Music Ministry, Celeste Zepponi |
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October 2006: Nick Alexander, Gretchen Harris, Steve
Angrisano |
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Aug/ Sept 2006: Matt Maher, John Paul II
Tribute, Chris Padgett, John Michael Talbot, Fr. Stan
Fortuna |
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September
2003
"Time with God is the most important reality in a
believer's life," said John Michael Talbot in a
recent interview. "But he's the one who gets cut back. Look to spend 20-30 minutes with God, two times a day
if you can, once if that's all you can do. Of those 20
minutes of prayer, two minutes are of contemplation. Trappist
Father Thomas Merton said if you get those two
minutes, that's all you need."
John Michael Talbot has used those daily two
minutes wisely in all the music he has produced
throughout the years. He has released his 46th album,
Signatures,
with 15 of his compositions that he re-recorded with the
Symphony of London and St. Michael Singers from Coventry
Cathedral. This is much more than just a "greatest hits
of JMT;" it is an experience in sharing in the life of
one of Catholic music’s best selling artists. Veteran orchestrator Phil Perkins worked with Talbot in
presenting arrangements that are at once familiar and
new, with the grace and sensitivity deserving of these
classic works. Songs include: Lilies of the Field,
Come Worship the Lord (Psalm 95), One Faith, God Alone
is Enough, Come Holy Spirit (Veni Sancte Spiritus), The
Magnificat: Prelude of Faith/Holy Is His Name, The
Hiding Place, Only in God (Psalm 62), The Simple Hearts,
and much more. Signatures is a wonderfully meditative CD
that will help bring your mind back to God and away from
the troubles of the world. Talbot says that if this CD
sells good he wants to go back to London and record a
sequel with more classic songs.
Serenity
is Elizabeth Hyne's debut album. It is a
beautiful, soothing selection of well-known, favorite
hymns and inspirational songs. It includes songs like,
Danny Boy, Ave Maria, The Prayer Of St. Francis,
Amazing Grace, I Believe, Come To The Water, Were You
There, Be Not Afraid, and the patriotic,
God
Bless
America. This wonderful collection is an excellent
tool for relaxation and reflection. Hynes’s vocals are
both moving and inspiring. Her style is much like that
of Kitty Cleveland, Gretchen Harris, or Angelina. Hynes
really “feels” what she sings and it comes through in
her tone and interpretation of the songs. Accompanying
Hynes on piano is David Carnes, a fantastic pianist
whose talents and abilities make
Serenity
one truly beautiful album.
Adoration
by Fr. Stan Fortuna was cut to be a tool, a means
to the end of one of the highest human acts –
Eucharistic adoration – thus fostering and
strengthening communion with God, which will foster and
strengthen communion with all peoples.
Adoration is a
truly meditative CD and a bit of a change for Fr. Stan
in a more calming and soothing way. Starting with the
first track, “Little Flower Song” is a perfect
mix that echoes the soul of St. Theresa. It is simple, just three lines, and the meaning is to the point.
“I will give everything to Jesus, When I have nothing
to give, I’ll give him this nothing.” That’s it; the
entire song. Like the newest doctor of the Church, it is
simple, but full of meaning. Fr. Stan incorporates a
beautiful string orchestra into this track making it very
pleasing. Giving one's self over to God completely is the
idea behind the song ”I Pledge This Song To You.”
It is just an acoustic guitar and Fr. Stan’s vocals.
Very touching. Also touching is the adoration prayer
from the Fatima Angel put to song by Fr. Stan in “Fatima
Angel Prayer,” saying he believes, adores and loves
and asks pardon for those that do not. Keeping with the
soothing sound but adding a little funk (this is a Fr.
Stan Fortuna CD after all), is the song “Part Of Me.” It
is based of Pope John Paul II’s Tertio Millennio
Adveniente, in that “A spirituality of Communion
means an ability to think of our brothers and sisters in
faith within the profound unity of the Mystical Body,
and therefore as 'those who are a part of me'.” It’s Bob Marley meets John Lennon in “I Wanna Go to Heaven.”
A reggae sound is introduced in this song which exhorts
us to
give peace a chance and help our brother to get back
home to Heaven. I have never been to Mardi Gras in
Brazil, but that is the feeling you get with “Mãe de
Luz” a song in Portuguese about the Mother of
Light. It would not be a Fr. Stan Fortuna CD without one
rap song. “School Of The Eucharist” is a hard
hitting lyric piece with a ton of messages thrown in. He
talks on everything from suicide bombers to 9/11 to
prima donna champions to our regular diet of sex,
violence and vulgarity. How do we get away from all
this? We need to sit in the school of the Eucharist.
Favorite line out of this song: “Can’t market me, I’m
too positively dramatic plus I’m Catholic. My rhymes are
just right for theses times.” One of the first
things you will see when you pick up
Adorationis the
stark white canvas on which a white-robed Fr. Stan Fortuna
is kneeing. Does this relate to the famous Beatles
"White Album,” considered to be one of their best?
Adoration is surely
one of Fr. Stan’s best and I await a second disk.
Speaking of the best of Fr. Stan Fortuna, the
folks down in Brazil love Fr. Stan's music, but the
country does not allow imports of CD's. So he struck a
deal with a local TV station there and they are
producing and
distributing a CD of Fr. Stan's songs. It's called
The
Brazilian Collection. Fr. Stan chose
these songs based on the concerts he's given in Brazil.
Don't worry! You don't have to live in
Brazil
to get this CD! You can have this new "best of"
collection no matter where you are! It includes songs
like Everybody's Got 2 Suffer ,Jesus Jesus Touch Me, All
For Me, Do You Love Me, Ave Maria De Allegria, So Much
Love, Say Yes To Sex, Unborn Victims Of Violence (A New
Law?), Urban Worship, Forever With You, Take Control, In
Memory Of Me, and more.
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