John Garth - Six Concertos for Violincello - Avison Ensemble/Tunnicliffe
Classical | 2 CD | EAC | FLAC, CUE, LOG | Scans | 536 MB | RS
Recorded: 10-13 Dec. 2006, Picture Gallery, Paxton House, Berwick upon Tweed
Released: 2007 | Label: Divine Art dda25059 | TT: 43:33, 50:36
Richard Tunnicliffe - cello | The Avison Ensemble, dir. Pavlo Beznosiuk

It is probably only experts in the history of British music who will prick up their ears at the name John Garth (1721-1810), and even among those experts only those who have specialized in the 18th century. The organist, from Durham in northern England, enjoyed greater popularity during his life than his friend, the nowadays better known Charles Avison (1709-1770), under whom Garth is presumed to have studied. […] Even though all the concertos follow the fast-slow-fast three movement sequence typical of the 18th century, the pieces show influences not only of the Italian Concerto Grosso style, but also touches reminiscent of the gallant style of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach […] (Aron Sayed, klassik.com)

It includes Joe Walsh, Bob Seger, Boz Scaggs, and Dan Fogelberg, so it's obviously not strictly a country album. But the soundtrack is important because it symbolizes the country trend that grew, then faded, in the early '80s (a case can be made that J.R. Ewing had a lot more influence on the fad than the film Urban Cowboy). Most of the country tracks here lean toward MOR.

Review by Tom Roland

In April 1999, Marshall Tucker bandleader Doug Gray's mother was killed in a two-car automobile accident just weeks before the release of the spiritual album Gospel. Part of the sad irony is that one of the many great songs on Gospel is "Momma Don't Cry Anymore," a song co-written by Gray as a tribute to his father, who passed away a few years ago. Throughout the 12-song set, Gray performs some of his finest from-the-heart vocals to date. Every song on Gospel is a treat, especially to someone who was raised in the Southern Baptist church, and grew up listening to and playing old gospel songs himself. It is obvious even on the first listen that there is a higher power at work, helping the music flow. Gray, Tim Lawter and Rusty Milner are to be commended for their finest production efforts yet, bringing a major studio sound to CD from their small, self-owned home studio in Spartanburg. The addition of Ronald Radford's steel guitar, plus some amazing work from Milner, Lawter and Steve Poole (who plays both piano and organ), and the absolute brilliance of Dave Muse on sax and flute, helps give this entire album the feeling of vintage Marshall Tucker Band. Gray sings "Eye Is on the Sparrow" with his daughter Gabrielle; also included is "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," a regular feature of their '70s shows. Tim Lawter closes out the set by singing "Beauty of Life," a tune written by Milner. The song holds the perfect message to close out this recording: "It's not too late to say I'm sorry, It's not too late to say I want to change." In 1991, the group recorded an excellent album called Southern Spirit; with Gospel, they have tapped into the real Southern spirit.