Johnny Mann paid some serious dues, boasting 39 albums arranged and conducted for his Singers, a 3-year stint on national tv on Chevrolet's "Stand Up and Cheer," 5 nominations and two Grammies merely scratch the iceberg of this man's musical resume. "Nearer" is a collection of 10 hymns plus "The Star Spangled Banner," and it lets you know immediately that here is a deep, talented ensemble, trained and directed by a master arranger, and every song touches us, no matter how many times we may have heard it before. Listen to the sweet tenor solo on "Fairest Lord Jesus," the harmonies on "Shadows of the Evening," "The Church is One Foundation," the title tune, "Hark, Hark My Soul," "Hosanna" and "Now the Day is Over." This is how these hymns should be directed and sung, and, forgive us, Johnny was the Mann who could make it happen! |
