Jonny Lang's Turn Around
Ten years into his recording career, Jonny Lang is fulfilling the promise critics hailed at the outset of his career. He has garnered platinum and gold certifications, a Grammy nomination, sold-out headlines concerts around the world, and toured with the Rolling Stones, among other accolades. Now Lang's "Turn Around," releasing on A&M Records to general and Christian market retail Sept. 19, reveals him to be a young adult artist of extraordinary musical and spiritual depth.
On "Turn Around", Lang confidently employs the songwriting craft he introduced on 2003's "Long Time Coming", the first album on which he had written or co-written nearly all of the songs. Lang's own songs have been described as "more like Stevie Wonder than Stevie Ray Vaughn." At Wonder's request, and in his presence, Lang had the honor of performing "Livin' for the City" at the legend's induction to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Like Wonder's first self-composed recordings, "Turn Around" is thoroughly spiritual and a personal expression of his faith. Producer Ron Fair, whose many credits include Black-Eyed Peas' "Where Is the Love," realizes the funk and gospel energy inherent in these 14 songs co-written by Lang and Grammy winners Drew Ramsey and Shannon Sanders , as well as five- time Grammy winner and GMA's most awarded artist, Steven Curtis Chapman.
"I've been a fan of Jonny Lang for a long time, but I think this record captures more of his heart and soul than any music I've ever heard him make," says Chapman, who co-wrote "My Love Remains" for the album with Lang. "I'm very honored to have had the privilege of writing with Jonny for this record and our friendship has shown me that he's a man that's passionate about his faith as a Christian and is committed to reflecting that in his music. This is an amazing record from an amazing artist."
"Turn Around" opens aptly with an organ intro by Sanders and continues with, "Bump in the Road," one of the album's numerous songs about the theme of redemption. Lang sings a duet with Michael McDonald on "Thankful" and in "One Person At A Time," the eminent musicians Sam Bush (mandolin) and Buddy Miller (guitar) join Lang for "On That Great Day," while Nickel Creek violinist Sara Watkins contributes to "Only A Man," on which Lang shares vocals with his wife, Haylie.
Author: Kevan Breitinger Published: June 28, 2006
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