B.C. & M. Choir - Hello Sunshine (1972/2022) [Official Digital Download 24/192]

There is little doubt that HELLO SUNSHINE remains the most unusual and, perhaps, least known album in the three-decade history of CTI Records.

By early 1972, Creed Taylor had built CTI Records into the premiere independent jazz label, attracting the art’s greatest practioners (Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine and George Benson) and producing some of the era’s most defining records.

His Kudu Records label, launched only months before in July 1971, also issued a steady stream of catchy soul jazz records with solid sales that helped build the whole company (and the renown of Grover Washington, Jr.).

Here, producer Creed Taylor had come up with the unique idea of combining a jazz soloist and a gospel choir. Hank Crawford was to be the soloist and Creed Taylor had selected Nashville’s B. C. & M. Choir as the saxophonist’s accompaniment. It was unusual for the producer to locate talent outside of New York City. But the B. C. & M. Choir was special.

Formed in the late 1960s, the B. C. & M. Choir was originally founded as a community choir that reflected the diversity in the South Nashville community. Even the group’s name, though never spelled out, stood for the joining of many churches from the “Baptist, Catholic & Methodist” denominations.

“The choir,” producer Shannon Williams recalls, “was started as an activity for the youth and church oriented ‘young at heart’ citizens of the South Nashville community. Many members came from the housing projects of South Nashville. It was really something to get involved in since there was not much recreation available to the Black Youths in those days.”

TRACKLIST

1. B.C. & M. Choir - Anytime and Anywhere
2. B.C. & M. Choir - Hello Sunshine
3. B.C. & M. Choir - I've Decided to Make Jesus My Choice
4. B.C. & M. Choir - He Abides
5. B.C. & M. Choir - Climbing Up the Mountain
6. B.C. & M. Choir - I've Got a Testimony
7. B.C. & M. Choir - Amazing Grace
8. B.C. & M. Choir - I've Got a Long Way to Go



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