I have to confess that the first time I heard the Isaacs on a Gaither video, I wasn’t all that impressed.
The family gospel group is a little bit different. Generally classified as bluegrass, heavy on the instrumentation, they have elements of Southern gospel, folk, even a dose of Lily Isaacs’ Jewish heritage.
But these folks grow on you. Their style has developed over the years, and their presentation has been appealing to more and more aficionados of mainstream gospel.
And when we first heard about their newest project, “Naturally: An Almost A Cappella Collection,” last month at Gaitherfest at Myrtle Beach, S.C., we came home with the CD. It’s been in our CD player more than out of it ever since.
Bill Gaither not only co-produced the project, he lends a bass part to one of the numbers, “No Shortage.”
The Isaacs, of course, not only have been featured on the Homecoming tour and won numerous bluegrass gospel honors, they sang in Anderson last year and have performed a couple of times in Alexandria.
Understand it’s ALMOST a cappella. Most of the numbers have an instrument or two backing the singers, from the Dixieland-style banjo on “Little Bit of Heaven” to acoustic guitar on several numbers and occasional upright bass or violin or mandolin, even a washboard.
“Hard Times Come Again No More” provides a haunting folk sound. “I Will Praise Him” is a cappella. Then comes Dottie Rambo’s classic, “Mama’s Teaching Angels How to Sing,” which they performed at the songwriting legend’s funeral.
Family matriarch Lily Isaacs has the solo on “Come My Child,” a … lullaby? No, it’s based on Jesus’ words from John 14 at the Last Supper. If Jesus sang it that way, it wouldn’t be surprising that the disciples dropped off to sleep at the Garden of Gethsemane.
Borrowing from the big numbers of other artists, the album continues with Larry Gatlin’s “Healin’ Stream” and a rendition of “The Three Bells” made famous by The Browns.
Two of the Isaacs’ big numbers, “Hallelujah” and “It Is Well With My Soul,” are included. Gaither numbers include “Hear the Voice of My Beloved,” “When God Seems So Near,” “There’s Something About That Name” and “Peace Be Still.”
Rounding out the 16-number project are “He Can Be Found” and “Does Jesus Care?”
Ben Isaacs co-produced the album, which also includes mom Lily and sisters Sonya and Becky, in addition to the background musicians.
“It Is Well With My Soul” provides a fitting finale to the project, a violin background highlighting Sonya Isaacs’ outstanding rendition of the classic hymn.
Sonya, incidentally, recently announced her engagement to Nashville songwriter Jimmy Yeary. A Dec. 20 wedding is planned.
Fans who have fallen in love with the bluegrass instrumental numbers for which the Isaacs are well known may be pleasantly surprised by this project. And people who prefer vocal excellence should like it too.
Jim Bailey’s column appears on Wednesday. He can be reached by e-mail at jameshenrybailey@earth link.net.
