Mercy’s Well

Songbook: Where Hymns & Harmony Live
Independent

“Songbook: Where Hymns & Harmony Live” is the latest entry in a series that Mercy’s Well began in 2006 with “Hymns: Stories for Life … Stories That Live” and continued in 2008 with “December: Hymns Where the Story Began.” Not only does Mercy’s Well have a tendency to place descriptive subtitles on their CD covers, they’ve practically created their own subgenre. The theme of this third chapter is the shaped-note era.

“Songbook,” features prominent piano accompaniment with little else in the way of instrumentation. Piano is more than enough when the players are Gordon Mote and David Huntsinger.

Predictability is avoided by the incorporation of fresh chords and appearances by bass singers Gene McDonald and Paul Harkey (Anchormen).

“He Bought My Soul” has an expressive arrangement that shifts with the singers to suit the lyrics rather than locking into a robotic rhythm. Huntsinger’s stride piano patterns propel “While Endless Ages Roll.”

“Songbook” concludes with a medley of “When They Ring the Bells of Heaven” and “Everybody Will Be Happy Over There.”

“He Will Surely Make It All Right,” “God Put a Rainbow in the Clouds,” “The Unseen Hand” and three more selections are also included.

“Songbook” is unique despite the use of classic material. Mercy’s Well has transported these mostly well-known lyrics to their own musical space, casting melodies you’ve heard before in a fresh light.

(David Bruce Murray)