Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama

In certain ways, There Will Be A Light, the first full-scale collaboration between Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama, seemed inevitable. Among the most soulful cats to emerge from Dave Matthews’ umbrella, Harper always seemed more comfortable playing with traditionalists than more commercial elder rockers, sharing a series of European dates and jamming with the Blind Boys in the studio. Since Harper offered his first cameo on Higher Ground, the Blind Boys’ mainstream breakthrough, the organic pop star has fostered a close-knit relationship with the veteran vocal group. Yet, despite his gospel leanings, Harper always seemed a bit hesitant to jump headfirst into overtly spiritual music, perhaps in fear of alienating his broadly defined audience.

Layering his funky-pop with gentle, gospel phrases, Harper has carved out a duel persona over the past decade, both as a lauded guitarist and an impassioned singer. And, after flirting with a variety of source styles, it’s comforting that There Will Be A Light is a loving tribute to one of America’s most traditional sounds. Born out of an initial studio jam session, Harper grew There Will Be A Light organically, writing material specifically for this session, as well as arranging a series of gospel standards for the Blind Boys’ trademark harmonies. Fleshing each track with organs and funky guitar solos, Harper also manages to create a truly modern gospel record, without falling into the star-studded trappings many artists have succumbed to while updating their image.

Opening with “Take My Hand,” a Harper original, There Will Be A Light connects directly to Harper’s latest solo release Diamonds on the Inside. A fresh, spiritual four-minute jam, “Take My Hand” is both thematically and lyrically linked to “With My Own Two Hands,” the guitarist’s latest single. Yet, with the Blind Boys’ deep harmonies buffing up each track’s chorus, Harper’s lyrics gain the strength they always needed to separate him from his organic pop peers. While tracks like “Wicked Man” and “Where Could I Go” contain well-constructed musical underbellies, There Will Be A Light, is about words more than music. And, while Harper has always weaved religious references into his prose, There Will Be A Light is the guitarist’s most direct discussion of Christianity. Though jam-rock often treats gospel as a secular sound, Harper takes a somewhat controversial leap on “Picture of Jesus,” singing:

Now it has been spoken

He would come again

But would we recognize

This king among men

There was a man in our time

His words shine bright like the sun

He tried to lift the masses

And was crucified by gun

Yet, sonically There Will Be A Light is a commercially accessible album. Legendary live performers, the Blind Boys of Alabama contain pop star souls, offering clear vocal hooks on Bob Dylan’s “Well, Well, Well.” Much like Eric Clapton’s recent collaborations with BB King, Harper serves as a subservient host, laying down the album’s basic production, while tailoring his tracks to meet the Blind Boys’ needs, which in this case fades his guitar lines into the background.

While Harper has offered at least one musically cohesive album, the college dorm room classic Fight for Your Mind, the guitarist’s catalogue is primarily known for specific songs---not fully realized albums. Perhaps a sign of his maturing artistic nature, Harper fashions There Will be A Light into a single statement, full of musical peaks, such as the disc’s title track, and a tight reading of the traditional “Mother’s Prayer.” A truly excellent album, There Will Be A Light does justice to the Blind Boys’ storied career, while also helping to sharpen Harper’s songwriting skills. And, in the end, Harper finds a comfortable place for gospel within the realm of organic pop.

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