Sweet three-part harmonies abound as this folk trio takes the listener on a journey from Shaker to Swing.

19 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Traditional Folk, FOLK: like Joni



Details:
On "Better Medicine" Raison D'Etre(Violet Rae Downey, Vickie Ellis, and Roberta Schultz) display their vocal versatility for three-part settings of Shaker hymns, 60s anthems, swing tunes, traditional folk ballads, and sensitive singer-songwriter renderings. The title cut was written by group member, Roberta Schultz, to express her belief that music is a "better medicine" for what ails the 21st Century.

Backing themselves on guitars, keyboard, light percussion, and mountain dulcimer, Raison D'Etre delivers straight, uplifting three-part arrangements. Chris Philpotts adds soprano sax to the standard, "Moonglow" and to the Great Depression's theme song, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" A three-part setting of Joni Mitchell's "The Last Time I Saw Richard," and a gospel-flavored cover of Mark Graham's "Zen Gospel Singing" round out the eclectic flavor of this disc that represents the group's first ten years together.