Elder J E Burch, Rev Beaumont - Elder J E Burch & Rev Beaumont 1927-1929 Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order
STYLE: Gospel RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 21387-11943 LABEL: Document DOCD5329 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £9.99
Reviewed by Tony Cummings
The preachers on this compilation display two contrasting styles of black American preaching and worship during the heyday of recording of this type of material in the late '20s/early '30s. Elder J E Burch, who recorded the 11 tracks in Atlanta, Georgia in October 1927, belonged to one of the denominations commonly known as "holiness" or "sanctified" churches. Elder Burch, like other holiness preachers, used the device of taking sharp, inward gulps of air at the end of every line. This lends urgency to his delivery though those not used to it might find it a strange, religious affectation. Each message begins with some singing accompanied by guitar, snare and bass drum and one or two tambourines with his congregation giving ragged but enthusiastic renditions of the hymns. Rev Beaumont, who recorded the 11 tracks here in New York in March and April 1929, adopts a "downhome" preaching style suggesting an origin much further south than the big apple. The subjects of his messages - the story of Job, Jesus healing the blind man, the resurrection of Christ, Jonah and the whale - are told in dramatic fashion though there is little attempt to relate the Bible stories to contemporary life. Neither of these preachers were in the same class as Rev Gates et al but it's still interesting to hear them today.
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