Indra Thomas & Sandra Lutters - Great Day! (2012)

“It’s almost an instinctive, out-of-body experience for me. I feel totally connected to what I grew up with – and I still feel, like I did then, as if God is working through me – using me as His extension to reach my audience and touch their souls.” Thus did great American Diva Indra Thomas describe how it feels to perform spirituals – which (along with ragtime, blues and jazz) remain one of the main musical legacies of African-American slavery. While it seems ironic that the blessing of spirituals grew out of the curse of slavery, the genre – with its primary themes of Christian belief, biblical storytelling, manic jubilation, and sweet relief from earthly suffering in the next life – has remained one of America’s most cherished musical artifacts worldwide. This album offers examples of many different types of spirituals, to include some that are believed to have conveyed “codes” among the cruelly oppressed slaves to aid them in escaping to freedom. Ms. Thomas – one of the world’s leading operatic sopranos – offers here a selection of our most beloved spirituals that may well even eclipse the legendary recordings of contralto Marian Anderson. Indra brings to them levels of sheer vocal beauty, intense emotional power and sacred sincerity that you may well have never heard in solo spirituals before … not to mention the full force of her African-American stylistic heritage. Her breathtaking renditions will make you want to pray, weep, tap your toes, or maybe even get up and dance!