From the moment you pick up this CD you are greeted with the cover photo, which speaks volumes before the great Mavis Staples even says one word. It is the famed 1956 photograph by Gordon Parks entitled Outside Looking In. Mavis Staples’ voice has been a joyous beacon of hope and redemption that in one way or another has spoken to the themes evoked in that image for decades.

Since her first recordings in the very early 1950’s with her famous family, Mavis Staples, who turns 80 on July 10^th, has never stopped delivering her message songs. For our part we can’t stop listening and she continues to deal with these themes which are as relevant today as they were when the Staples Singers “crossed over” and became known as God’s Hitmakers in the 1960’s.

Mavis still has something to say and on We Get By, she says it. She sings in an intimate way that is made possible by the stark and haunting backing of her longtime band led by guitarist Rick Holmstrom. He is joined as always by multi-instrumentalist Jeff Turmes who plays electric bass on this release and Stephen Hodges, who I’ve always thought of as being as much of a percussionist as he is a drummer. Here Hodges pulls out all the sticks, mallets and brushes. He even makes great use of the dreaded tambourine and makes that often annoying instrument work in service of some great material written by the album’s producer, Ben Harper.

Rick Holmstrom’s playing is always interesting. In this context, he uses the sounds of Roebuck “Pops” Staples guitar playing not only as kind of a template which evokes his memory, but as a jumping off point to explore his own ideas. As you listen to We Get By at times it is if Mavis is still singing with “Pops.” The close mic sound where Mavis’ breathing is audible at times makes me feel like she is actually inside looking out.

We Get By is the latest gospel according to Mavis and is the best album she has made in several years. It is also the best soul album of 2019.

- David Mac



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