On Lord, How Come Me Here?, composer Shawn Okpebholo turns the mirror of history on today’s society with his own work and a reimagined collection of spirituals by enslaved Africans and American folk hymns that draws upon music from the past to critique contemporary racial injustices in the United States and around the globe. An ensemble of mezzo-soprano (J’Nai Bridges), baritone (Will Liverman), piano (Paul Sánchez), cello, and flute poignantly bring Okpebholo’s music to life, from hopeful anthems celebrating community to laments between a mother and her Creator and hymns celebrating faith and hope over hate and fear...

Shawn Okpebholo delivers some incredibly emotive works on Lord, How Come Me Here? From the opening 'Shall We Gather at the River', to the closing 'God is a God' the album's 10 tracks (56 min, 34 sec) revist traditional folk hymns and give them an updated, modern approach, whilst paying respect and remaining faithful to the spirit of the original.

While there's pieces that almost everyone will be familiar with ('He's Got the Whole World in His Hands' and 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot') there are others that aren't quite as well known.

I was also impressed with the way the album was ordered, as everything flows so freely that it almost feels one performance piece.

This is a historically important and culturally significant album that you'll get many hours of entertainment out of.

Track listing:

01. Shall We Gather At The River (6:22)
02. He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands (5.25)
03. Lord, How Come Me Here? (6:32)
04. I’ve Never Felt Such Love / What Wondrous Love Is This (6:09)
05. Ride On, King Jesus (4:01)
06. Oh, Glory (5:28)
07. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (3:15)
08. Two Black Churches: Ballad Of Birmingham (9:23)
09. Two Black Churches: The Rain (6:06)
10. God Is A God (4:00)

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Darren Rea