Established as well as new LDS songwriters and recording artists have some fresh offerings to start the year out. Here’s an idea of what you can expect.
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Thy Healing Hands features original words and music by Sarh Lyn Baril, a talented newcomer to the LDS music scene. The heartfelt words and nice melodies with such titles as “Unto the Lord” and “At His Feet” are sung by familiar voices, including Tammy Simister Robinson and Rebecca Lopez. Especially appealing and memorable are “I Believe,” sung by Barry Hansen, and “Not Far from Home,” sung by April Merservy. Dallyn Vail Bayles lends his nice tenor to “But a Moment.” Greg Hansen did the interesting and appealing arrangements for this enjoyable album.
Everything Speaks His Name is award-winning vocalist Jessie Clark Funk’s third album, from Sounds of Zion. This one, produced by her husband Jim Funk, has a spiritual theme in 13 songs composed by others. Funk’s pleasing voice is perfect for such upbeat songs as “Again,” “Please Come,” “Calling All Angels,” and my favorite, “No One Knows My Heart [Better than You].” “There is a Green Hill Far Away” has a surprising variation in melody, along with the addition of a verse from “If You Could Hie to Kolob.” Although her duet with Dan Beck on “The Prayer” is good, it’s hard for anyone to compete with Josh Groban’s signature rendition.
Living Water is an instrumental collaboration featuring violinist Beverly Hansen and harpist Lysa Rytting (and sometimes clarinetist Daron Bradford) in accurately subtitled “hymns to lift and renew the soul.” Greg Hansen’s varied and creative arrangements make for pleasant, reverent listening on such hymns as “The Lord is My Shepherd,” “I Feel My Savior’s Love,” He Leadeth Me” and “I Stand All Amazed.” The simplicity of the violin-only “If You Could Hie to Kolob” stands out among the dozen selections, and the duo renders “A Child’s Prayer” beautifully. Sounds of Zion produced the album.
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Come Sing to the Lord is a compilation album offering a taste of several LDS artists on the Shadow Mountain label. The overall tone is reverent while featuring a variety of musical styles by vocalists Hilary Weeks, Jenny Phillips, Kenneth Cope, Cherie Call, Jenny Jordan Frogley, and Roger Hoffman. Violinist Jenny Oaks Baker has two lovely pieces, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and “Lead, Kindly Light,” both with full orchestration. Two less-familiar pieces, “Blessed Be His Name” and “Rose of Bethlehem” appear on the album along with oft-heard hymns.
Wanna Be Brave is the debut album of Sarah Bethany Ham, a young woman whose youthful voice and upbeat songs will especially appeal to youth. Greg Hansen arranged the music and plays the keyboards on the new release from the Eagle Springs label. Some tunes, such as “I Am,” “Answer,” and “Do They See Jesus in Me” are smooth and calming, while others, such as “Awake” and “I Believe in You,” have a strong beat. But all carry messages of encouragement to face the future with confidence. The album includes, appropriately, a fully-orchestrated arrangement of “Abide with Me.”
An Evening with Joseph and Emma is the soundtrack from an original musical by Randy Lee Rowley. Dallyn and Rachel Bayles, who have portrayed Joseph and Emma in the annual Nauvoo pageant, lend their trained voices to the words and music describing the Prophet Joseph Smith’s experiences, from the First Vision through courtship, persecution, and eventually, martyrdom. The orchestrated score is quite good, although it doesn’t offer a lot of variation. At times, the music serves as backdrop for spoken dialogue. The CD’s insert contains all the lyrics, making it easy to follow the music.
