15th December, 2006

JOE MONTAGUE   

Album: Bethlehem, House of Bread
Artist: Annie Moses Band

Label: manAlive Records, 2006

In A Word: Worship

"If you want to capture the true spirit of what Christmas is all about this year, sit quietly and mediate upon the words of traditional carols set to new arrangements by Annie and Bill Wolaver."

If there is one thing that can be said consistently about the Annie Moses Band it is that they create beautiful music. Bethlehem, House of Bread is no exception with string arrangements which are among the best you will hear in any genre.

If you want to capture the true spirit of what Christmas is all about this year, sit quietly and mediate upon the words of traditional carols set to new arrangements by Annie and Bill Wolaver (the father). In particular, the stirring rendition of the spiritual Mary Had A Baby will make you tingle in awe. Annie Wolaver’s vocals are backed by the chorale ensemble One Voice comprised of sopranos Kelly Lunsford, Barklee Bowers, Christin Kubasko and Mary Hannah Corzine. Alto vocals come by way of Alex Bowers and Anna Stancil. Melissa McLamb directs One Voice.

The mother of the talented Wolaver family is Robin, long regarded as a gifted lyricist. Robin has blessed us with the sacramental Bethlehem, House of Bread, the gentle lullaby-like Little Baby, and the bluegrass Christmas on Cripple Creek. This is not the first time the normally classically oriented Wolavers have pointed a song in the direction of Robin’s heritage in the eastern mountains of Tennessee. She shares writing credits for Christmas on Cripple Creek with husband Bill and Annie. Pete Huttlinger and Jeremiah Wolaver combine for some great banjo picks while Annie a former Berklee protégée temporarily abandons prim and proper to demonstrate her prowess as a top notch fiddler.

It is amazing that one family should have so much talent and still remain so humble and ministry focused. I recall being spellbound as I sat in a Canadian television studio last January and watched a scaled-down Annie Moses Band perform on 100 Huntley Street. Afterwards when we met and sat around the table talking I kept thinking, ‘They can’t realllllyyyy be this nice'.

If you want to experience over and over again the majesty of worshipping a king who came to earth that we might live then listen very carefully and mediate upon the words of Holy Christmas Day (A Christmas Communion Hymn): “The fruit of the vine we pour; Blood so pure, so crimson; Hope of redemption; It’s you we praise; On this holy, holy Christmas day".

The Annie Moses Band is comprised of, Annie Wolaver (violin, lead vocals), Alex Wolaver (viola, background vocals), Benjamin Wolaver (cello), Camille Wolaver (harp, organ, background vocals, low harmony), Gretchen Wolaver (mandolin, background vocals, high harmony), Jeremiah Wolaver (banjo), Bill Wolaver (piano, keyboard), Robin Wolaver (background vocals, low harmony), J. Javier Santiago (drums, percussion) and Peter Bales (bass).