Reviewed by Simon Carpenter

Let's get the confessions over with first. I have to admit that seeing the words "Grimsby" and "church" rather than, say. "Cambridge" and "college" in prominent positions on the cover of this CD brought all my unregenerate southern prejudices to the fore. And then I saw that the recording was partly a tribute to Herbert Sumsion, one of our local heroes here in Gloucester. How dare they! In fact. this is a CD out of the top drawer, featuring some of the best treble singing I have heard in a long time. Their tone is warm and easy on the ear, but also intensely musical. The diction is also faultless without going over the top and spitting the words out. St James's. Great Grimsby. might be called a church but, musically at least, it has a cathedral set-up, choir school, et al. There are 14 tracks, with seven by Sumsion and six from the same English stable - Dyson. Ireland. Howells and Vaughan .Williams. The odd one out is "The Father's Love" by Simon Lole. And also included in the 14 are three organ solos, two by Howells and one by Ireland. All great stuff!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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