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Critical Praise for "Diamond Jubilation"
"Diamond Jubilation is the best project I ever worked on."
-Levon Helm
"They continue to press the envelope with their greatness
linking us to a rich musical heritage that keeps us in-tune
and in harmony with the universe and each other. Happy 75th
Anniversary."
-Stevie Wonder
"What do Norah Jones, Buena Vista, O Brother, Emmylou Harris
and Bob Dylan have in common with this new album from the Dixie
Hummingbirds? They are all honest, organic, poetic and moving
- qualities our listeners look for in the records they buy."
-Bruce Warren, Program Director of WXPN
"Listening to The Hummingbirds was something that brought
me back to my roots: church and R&B. I loved it."
-Sam Clayton, Percussionist for Little Feat
"You have a great, great record on your hands. Larry
did a stunning job. We are completely blown away by the whole
thing."
-Julie and Buddy Miller
"In the beginning, after the word, before rock 'n' roll,
and before there was rap, hip-hop, disco, punk, funk, metal,
soul, Motown, rock-a-billy, before bebop, doo-wop, and the
big band swing there was The Dixie Hummingbirds. The mighty
Dixie Hummingbirds. They sang through the Great Depression,
the terms of thirteen presidents, four major wars, five generations
of Americans and seven decades of the twentieth century. The
Dixie Hummingbirds. They personify perseverance, talent, and
dedication. Now the iron men of gospel are celebrating their
seventy-fifth anniversary. The Dixie Hummingbirds are indeed
an American institution. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you
the gentlemen of song, the legendary Dixie Hummingbirds."
-Isaac Hayes, GREAT GOD A'MIGHTY! THE DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS:
Celebrating the Rise of Soul Gospel Music by Jerry Zolten
published by Oxford University Press (2003)
"GLORY, HALLELUJAH: Philadelphia-based gospel greats the
Dixie Hummingbirds celebrate their 75th anniversary with Diamond
Jubilation (Rounder), bejeweled with warm and intimate performances.
A."
- The Philadelphia Daily News
"Lead singer Ira Tucker, Sr., now in his late 70s, displays
his still-considerable house-wrecking skills over the Cajun
rhythms of "God's Radar" and the growling blues of
Julie Miller's "Too Many Troubles." Not too shabby
for a group celebrating its 75th anniversary."
- USA Today
"With the success of the Blind Boys of Alabama's recent
albums for the Real World label and Fairfield Four member Isaac
Freeman's 2002 disc Beautiful Stars, it's no overstatement to
say that we're in the midst of about as big a gospel revival
as we're likely to see. It's hard to imagine a more welcome
addition to that revival than Diamond Jubilation.:
- No Depression
"Diamond Jubilation is a vibrant new studio recording….With
all the renewed interest in gospel brought upon by Robert Randolph
and the Blind Boys of Alabama, credit should be given to these
true musical innovators."
- Offbeat Magazine
"Diamond Jubilation is not your ordinary gospel record
- it's soulful and reverent, but it rocks too!"
- Miles of Music
"Led by Ira Tucker, Sr., who has been with the group since
1938, the 'birds follow the Blind Boys into the secular realm
of blues, zydeco, and Americana, playing gospel standards and
notable originals with a crack backing band. For gospel fans,
the story is the incredible resilience of this group and their
message: Tucker and his men make sweet, six-part harmony of
their rough-hewn vocals...
An Americana dream band if there ever was one, the musicians
respectfully keep the spotlight on the voices. The joy in this
labor of love rings out from every track, making for an inspiring
celebration that's impossible not to like."
- Barnes & Noble.com
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