CD Review: Hymns from Chigger Hill (Chigger Hill Boys & Terri)
Rating: 3.5 stars (of 5)
Producer: none listed on pre-release.
Song List: In the Sweet By and By; In the Garden; Since Jesus Came Into My Heart; Blessed Assurance; Leaning on the Everlasting Arms; Oh How I Love Jesus; When the Roll is Called Up Yonder; Without Him; Are You Washed in the Blood; Farther Along; Softly and Tenderly.
Available from: Artist.
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The Chigger Hill Boys & Terri was founded in 2001. Shortly thereafter, they were signed to Thoroughbred Records, a division of Daywind. This six-member bluegrass ensemble includes five musicians (two of whom also do background vocals) and lead singer Terri Argot Gore.
This project is a collection of eleven hymns arranged in a bluegrass style. Lead singer Terri Gore sings the lead (melody) on nine of the eleven songs. (”Blessed Assurance” and “Without Him” are both led by male vocalists.) Though common in other genres, someone used to the Southern Gospel practice of different group members having solos on different songs may find it a little repetitive.
The instrumentals are folk-influenced bluegrass. (Since these are hymns, and many of the hymns are slower tempo, there are few of the driving uptempo bluegrass licks that distinguish other bluegrass projects.) This mellow collection is a good choice to play during quiet times of reflection.
