One now, another in October…

First up, the latest album from The Isaacs, Naturally: An Almost a Cappella Collection, is out on Spring House. It contains 16 new tracks from the reigning family in bluegrass Gospel music. Six of the songs are a cappella, and the rest featured only one or two instruments as accompaniment.

The songs come from writers familiar to fans of Gospel music – Bill and Gloria Gaither, Dottie Rambo and Sonya Isaacs. There is one from Larry Gatlin, and The Isaacs also include a remake of The Three Bells, the giant hit for Jim Ed Brown and The Browns in 1959.

Audio samples can be found on The Isaacs’ web site and in iTunes.

Dailey & Vincent, the current superstars of bluegrass harmony singing, have an a cappella collection in the works as well. Singing From The Heart will be released October 20 on Rounder Records.

This project, which includes a number of notable guest vocalists, will serve to benefit the Tennessee Bible College in Cookeville, TN. Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent started this project in 2001 to raise money for the school, well before they ever hatched their plan to perform and record together.

To fill out the quartets, they invited Andy Ball of Lonesome River Band, Shawn Lane of Blue Highway, Tony King (formerly with JD Crowe) and Molly Skaggs, the talented daughter of Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White. Even Doyle Lawson, Jamie’s former boss, gets in on the action, adding his baritone vocal on a track. Basses Glenn Dustin and Jeff Pearles also contribute.

Tennessee Bible College has always accepted all comers, regardless of an ability to pay, and proceeds from the CD will go to further that effort.

Tracks include:

Though released on Rounder, Singing From The Heart will not be in wide distribution, but offered primarily through Christian bookstores and resellers, the Tennessee Bible College and the Rounder and Dailey & Vincent web sites.

No audio samples up yet online that we could find.

UPDATE 9/16: Thanks to reader Brian Ison who found audio samples from Singing From The Heart at EMI/CMG Distribution’s site.

Yet more news of band personnel changes…

The Isaacs have announced that Thomas Wywrot has joined the band playing banjo and guitar.

Current lineup now includes Ben Isaacs on bass, Sonya Isaacs on mandolin, Becky Isaacs Bowman on guitar, Jesse Stockman on fiddle, Nathan Fauscett on percussion and Wywrot on banjo and guitar.

The Isaacs posted a statement on their web site welcoming Thomas, and bidding a fond farewell to departing Troy Engle.

“The Isaacs would like to wish Troy Engle all the best in his future endeavors.  It has been great having him travel and play with The Isaacs for the last year.  We also welcome Thomas Wywrot to our road family and we look forward to many great concerts with this great young man.”

You can find their tour schedule on The Isaacs web site.

The Isaacs have posted some sample video from their recent concert DVD release, Live In Norway. It starts with a spirited instrumental version of I’ll Fly Away followed by footage of the band and family sight-seeing.

The DVD was filmed in Kristiansand in June of 2007, and features 19 songs, including many popular titles from Isaacs’ CD releases.

Many grassers may think of The Isaacs primarily as a pop, Gospel act, not realizing that they started out as a bluegrass band singing Gospel music. I can recall seeing Ben, Sonya and Rebecca jamming at Galax and they are all serious and highly competent bluegrass pickers.

Check out the sample video clip for confirmation.

Troy Engle has joined The Isaacs, playing both guitar and banjo, replacing Kevin Haynie who recently left the band. He had previously been a member of The Mark Newton band, and worked with Buddy Jewell and Patty Loveless.

The Isaacs report that Troy is a natural fit, and since he has been a fan of their music for so long, working him in has been a breeze.

You can find The Isaacs’ tour schedule online to catch them when they come to your part of the world.