Angeline Morrison, Braithwaite-kilcoyne Cohen, Jon Bickley - Grace will lead me home (2024) [Hi-Res]

Angeline Morrison (The Sorrow Songs), Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (Granny's Attic) and Jon Bickley (The Invisible Folk Club) came together to create a new album marking the 250th anniversary of the writing of Amazing Grace (2023) and the 300th anniversary of the birth of its writer John Newton (2025).

Jon Bickley headed a partnership between Invisible Folk, the Arts Council and the Cowper & Newton Museum in a project entitled 'Grace will lead me home.' It explored the love that people have for Amazing Grace including those who are descended from the slaves that Newton shipped across the Atlantic. Interviews covering every aspect of Newton's life, the slave trade and the evolution of the beloved hymn was undertaken (including Judy Collins) and these can be found in a series of podcasts invisiblefolk.com/grace-will-lead-me-home

Cohen and Angeline were invited to join the project, review the research, meet the folks at the museum and write new songs. Cohen had written 'Black Singers and Ballads' www.efdss.org/learning/resources/a-z/10482-black-singers-resource-output# and played on the Reg Meuross project 'Stolen from God.' Angeline had released 'The Brown Girl and Other Folk Songs' and 'The Sorrow Songs' to considerable acclaim. Both artists brought the weight of their study as well as considerable artistic talents to the project.

One of the first things the group did upon first meeting was to respond to a request from the museum. The tune we have come to associate with 'Amazing Grace' is called 'New Britain' but it did not become associated with the song until 70 years after the words were written. In the meantime, it had many tunes, one of which was 'Jesu thy word is my delight.' The live recording on the album is the band singing that arrangement on the morning after the request from the museum. They also recorded 'Eyes on the Prize' and the more familiar version of Amazing Grace on that first meeting. Angeline also sang a beautiful version of Zoe Mulford's song 'The President sang Amazing Grace.'

Three months later the group reassembled to record and perform the new songs. Angeline brought 'Turn round Newton' a song about Newton's relationship with William Cowper and 'Grace will lead me home' which she performed with a children's choir in the courtyard of the Cowper & Newton Museum. These songs have echoes of Doo-wop and other music of the Afro Caribbean diaspora. She also brought 'Dear Polly' a song taken from Newton's copious letters to his wife.

Cohen brought the profound and arresting 'Press Gang Song.' This song gradually reveals the everyday acceptance of the violence and brutality of the transatlantic slave trade and is delivered with Cohen's trademark intensity. He also brought 'Fantasia on a West Indian Burial Theme' a new composition which includes a melody that would have been played at the funerals of slaves. Cohen's musical influence on the project was so strong that after the first day Jon referred to him as 'Maestro.'

Jon's contribution to the project is 'I'm going to hear John Newton preach' which traces Newton's life from slave trader to conversion to preacher to abolitionist. 'The choir still sings Amazing Grace' is an imaginative panorama of different places 'Amazing Grace' pops up. He also wrote 'Sorry' an impatient demand that today's leaders should own their countries’ past so that we can move towards reparation and healing and that starts by saying Sorry.

Tracklist:
1.01 - Angeline Morrison, Jon Bickley, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne - Dear Polly (2:58)
1.02 - Angeline Morrison, Jon Bickley, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne - Press Gang Song (2:50)
1.03 - Angeline Morrison, Jon Bickley, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne - Grace will lead me home (4:19)
1.04 - Angeline Morrison, Jon Bickley, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne - Turn round Newton (1:55)
1.05 - Angeline Morrison, Jon Bickley, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne - The President sang Amazing Grace (3:24)
1.06 - Angeline Morrison, Jon Bickley, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne - Fantasia on a West Indian burial theme (3:16)
1.07 - Angeline Morrison, Jon Bickley, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne - I'm going to hear John Newton preach (4:30)
1.08 - Angeline Morrison, Jon Bickley, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne - The choir still sings Amazing Grace (3:17)
1.09 - Angeline Morrison, Jon Bickley, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne - Sorry (3:13)
1.10 - Angeline Morrison, Jon Bickley, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne - Amazing Grace (Jesus thy word is my delight) (3:55)
1.11 - Angeline Morrison, Jon Bickley, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne - Eyes on the prize (2:34)
1.12 - Angeline Morrison, Jon Bickley, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne - Amazing Grace (5:06)