As long as I can remember, the Negro spiritual has personally inspired me as a composer, a lover of history, an African- American, and a person of faith. This inspiration led me to a further, deeper study of spirituals – their history, texts, and melodies. That study informed areas of my compositional voice, and ultimately became the impetus for this album. This recording is special to me. It was born out of my desire to take an important musical tradition, re-imagine it on paper, and have it brought to life by truly talented performing musicians. Through my music, I hope that more people will be exposed to this timeless art form, and be touched by this treasure that was given by Negro slaves to all of humanity. My compositional process involved hours of engaging the texts and reflecting on the honest lyrics that are often multidimensional and complex, yet simply expressed, humbly, in slave vernacular. The messages are discerning and persona...