Search - The Jones Family :: From Earth to Heaven

From Earth to Heaven is The Jones Family?s long-awaited follow-up to its critically acclaimed debut album, Unquiet. The songs on From Earth to Heaven range from the secular to the sacred and from the traditional to the contemporary. All have The Jones Family?s unique stamp: tight harmonies, soaring solos, and tasteful instrumentation.On the traditional side, Chenoa?s stunning lead vocal in the "The Wild Goose," accompanied by Joseph Cunliffe on flute, gets the CD off to a perfect start. Two traditional hymns, "I Will Guide Thee" and "Wondrous Love," show off the family?s exquisite harmonies.Chuck sings lead on the chantey "Bold Riley," backed up by the Extended Jones Family Choir. This ensemble also accompanies Chenoa on the drinking song "Toddling Home." The Joneses? ease with unaccompanied singing is demonstrated by the traditional anthem "Thousands or More." And Chuck adds unexpected depths to the prodigal son story of "Wild Rover," assisted by Robert Spates? superb fiddle work.Songs by contemporary singer-songwriters are also well represented on From Earth to Heaven. Richard Thompson?s "Poor Ditching Boy" and Leonard Cohen?s "Hallelujah" give Chuck two opportunities to explore the perplexing nature of romantic love. Chenoa does full justice to the aching sadness of Sarah McLachlan?s "Angel." Brenda has the lead vocal for a change on Jean Ritchie?s "What?ll I Do With the Baby-O," An entirely different mood is created by David Byrne "Dream Operator," featuring Chuck on real and toy piano. The CD is brought to a quiet close with "Crossing the Bar," with words from a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson and with an incomparably beautiful melody by Rani Arbo.In sum, From Earth to Heaven is an outstanding second CD by an ensemble that Folkwax called "staggeringly talented" and that caused Sing Out! to exclaim, "All hail the family band!"