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Various Artists

The Great Debaters OST

Atlantic | 2007 | Sountrack

Biography

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This collection of gospel, blues, and jazz music from the film of the same name was purportedly chosen by director Denzel Washington personally. If that is indeed the case, he’s got good taste.

Most of the newer recordings feature blues performer Alvin "Youngblood" Hart and the gospel side of Sharon Jones, along with Billy Rivers & The Angelic Voices of Faith and The Carolina Chocolate Drops (excellent name!). The powerful opening track, "My Soul is a Witness," features both Hart and Jones, as do "That's What My Baby Likes" and "It's Tight Like That" (where they're joined by Teenie Hodges). The album moves from the anthemic and massive "Up Above My Head" (my personal favorite, for what it's worth) and "We Shall Not Be Moved" to the simple "How Long Before I Change My Clothes" without missing a beat.

Also on TGD are big band music from David Berger and The Sultans of Swing and period recordings from Art Tatum and Marion Anderson. These four tracks stray from the overall mood evoked by the others, but ultimately, this is an assortment of music meant to support a film. Whether it's to be enjoyed out of context is a subjective matter.

The ever-growing number of fans of Mr. Hart and Ms. Jones will doubtless think this is money in the bank, as would blues and gospel fans who may not be aware of these two (though there may not be many). If they took it on the road and belted it out the way Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings do their music, they'd probably sell millions and millions.

Jason Lomax