Album Reviews

Even atheists will swoon for Mahalia's unlikely Sunday morning thanksgiving at the 1958 Newport Jazz festival.  Accompanied by piano,  organ and bass Ms. Jackson begins with the solemn song "An Evening Prayer" and then moves to a more celebratory  "I'm On My Way." Then it's back to the mournful  "A City Called Heaven."

Even atheists will swoon for Mahalia's unlikely Sunday morning thanksgiving at the 1958 Newport Jazz festival.  Accompanied by piano,  organ and bass Ms. Jackson begins with the solemn song "An Evening Prayer" and then moves to a more celebratory  "I'm On My Way." Then it's back to the mournful  "A City Called Heaven."

Never does she intrude upon the listener's religious space. Instead she works to express her faith experience. Even when she sings the potentially  inflammatory "God Is Real," never would even an atheist feel pressed upon. 

One song sounds more like a doo wop or r&b song more than one you'd normally associate with gospel.Then it's back to the most intimate of personal religious expression. You almost feel like you're eavesdropping when you realize she's reaching this exalted state in front of tens of thousands of people!

Like any great recording of a live performance, particularly one that's also well recorded, this one is transportive of time and space. You can almost feel the  humid summer air, particularly in the way the piano, somewhat distantly miked, seems to cut through a thick atmosphere. Overall it's a very spacious, airy recording that blends the direct feed with the atmospherics in just the right proportion. 

This is a hypnotic performance, well recorded. Every time I play it, I play it through. It's real each time. 

The Speakers Corner reissue sounds remarkably similar to a Columbia third pressing (the best I could do) white "360 Stereo Sound"  pressing only quieter. The Pallas pressing was absolutely silent.

Listening to this record is guaranteed to leave you in a more relaxed and peaceful state.