Time: 52:26
Size: 120.0 MB
Styles: Americana, Gospel blues
Year: 2017
Art: Front
[3:35] 1. Rock Of Ages
[5:43] 2. Little Liza Jane
[5:30] 3. Don't Do It
[5:23] 4. I Want Jesus
[6:25] 5. Breaking Up Somebody's Home
[4:02] 6. Dark End Of The Street
[4:40] 7. Lonesome Pines
[2:49] 8. Green River
[4:29] 9. Wide River
[4:55] 10. White Dove
[4:50] 11. Homeless Child
There is one surviving member of the iconic trio, The Holmes Brothers. Founding member, singer and bassist, Sherman Holmes, now 77, releases his very first solo album July 21st on M.C. Records. Released under the moniker, The Sherman Holmes Project, the record is aptly titled, The Richmond Sessions. This is also Holmes’ first recording since the passing of his brother and musical partners, Wendell Holmes and Popsy Dixon, both in 2015. But his solo debut, dedicated to their memories, is no somber affair. The blend of bluegrass, gritty rock & roll, and joyful gospel will be familiar from the Holmes Brothers days. With some of his strongest vocals on record, the album shows Sherman is still an artist in his prime.
“Sounds pretty good for a 77-year-old, doesn’t it?” Holmes laughs. “I was overjoyed to do this, because I didn’t know how I was going to restart my career. We chose a good collection of songs that we wanted to do. We got some gospel in there, and some bluegrass. It’s a good mix of the Americana music, as I like to call it.”
Make no mistake, the music of The Richmond Sessions took us to church. We’re not talking about one of those Megachurches often seen in evangelical broadcasts. This is tent revival, foot stomping, back to the roots of it, church. The very first track sets the tone. Filled with fiddle, banjo, dobro and lofting vocals, the traditional hymn, “Rock of Ages,” rocked our socks off. Other great, gospel classics include the Holmes favored, “I Want Jesus,” and “Wide River.” Throughout the album, background/choir vocals are provided by the Legendary Ingramettes, Richmond’s “first family of gospel,” 50 years standing. Founded by Sister Maggie Ingram, the group is now led by her daughter, Rev. Almeta Ingram-Miller, and includes Cheryl Marcia Maroney, and Ann Cunningham. Rev. Almeta solos a verse in “Rock of Ages,” with her voice reaching the very heavens.
Producer Jon Lohman, who also plays harmonica, made the new album a Virginia-style family affair. Along with the Ingramettes, he brought in Rob Ickes (dobro), Sammy Shelor (banjo), Jared Pool (mandolin/guitar), Jacob Eller (upright bass), David Van Deventer (fiddle), Brandon Davis (guitar), Stuart Hamlin (piano), Calvin “Kool Aid” Curry (bass), and Devon “DJ Harrison” Harris (Hammond B-3). Drumming duties were shared by Harris, Randall Cort, and Clarence Walters, with Holmes providing vocals, bass and keyboards.
“Sounds pretty good for a 77-year-old, doesn’t it?” Holmes laughs. “I was overjoyed to do this, because I didn’t know how I was going to restart my career. We chose a good collection of songs that we wanted to do. We got some gospel in there, and some bluegrass. It’s a good mix of the Americana music, as I like to call it.”
Make no mistake, the music of The Richmond Sessions took us to church. We’re not talking about one of those Megachurches often seen in evangelical broadcasts. This is tent revival, foot stomping, back to the roots of it, church. The very first track sets the tone. Filled with fiddle, banjo, dobro and lofting vocals, the traditional hymn, “Rock of Ages,” rocked our socks off. Other great, gospel classics include the Holmes favored, “I Want Jesus,” and “Wide River.” Throughout the album, background/choir vocals are provided by the Legendary Ingramettes, Richmond’s “first family of gospel,” 50 years standing. Founded by Sister Maggie Ingram, the group is now led by her daughter, Rev. Almeta Ingram-Miller, and includes Cheryl Marcia Maroney, and Ann Cunningham. Rev. Almeta solos a verse in “Rock of Ages,” with her voice reaching the very heavens.
Producer Jon Lohman, who also plays harmonica, made the new album a Virginia-style family affair. Along with the Ingramettes, he brought in Rob Ickes (dobro), Sammy Shelor (banjo), Jared Pool (mandolin/guitar), Jacob Eller (upright bass), David Van Deventer (fiddle), Brandon Davis (guitar), Stuart Hamlin (piano), Calvin “Kool Aid” Curry (bass), and Devon “DJ Harrison” Harris (Hammond B-3). Drumming duties were shared by Harris, Randall Cort, and Clarence Walters, with Holmes providing vocals, bass and keyboards.
The Richmond Sessions
