Parchman Prison Prayer – Another Mississippi Sunday Morning | Album Review

Parchman Prison Prayer – Another Mississippi Sunday Morning

Self Released

www.ianbrennan.com

13 tracks

Producer Ian Brennan went to the notorious Parchman Prison Farm in 2022 and produced Parchman Prison Prayer, which received great critical acclaim from the likes of the New York Times, the BBC and The Guardian. Brennan was allowed to return on Superbowl Sunday in 2024 and the men who performed were allowed to sing and play again along with being videoed and having photos taken. A dozen men participated this time, ranging in age from 23 to 77. Three are serving life sentences, one is serving a term that will exceed his lifespan, and 5 were new arrivals since 2022. The delivered to this effort a baker’s dozen songs of their feelings of God’s grace.

“Parchman Prison Blues” starts off the album with harmonized humming by six of the inmates who huddled around and improvised a wordless performance. Their blues showcase the pain and deprivation they have experienced. All those serving life sentences plus a 66 year old who has spent most of his adult life on the farm were part of this group. “Open the Floodgates of Heaven (Let It Rain)” is a moving piece with solo voice and piano. One can feel their pain and emotion in the vocals. The song was recorded as a torrential storm enveloped the prison; J. Hemphill sang with a trembling and emotive voice. He is 67 and serving a life sentence since he was incarcerated when in his 20s. Hemphill is a changed man who should be released.

“Grace Will Lead Me On” opens with organ and is testimony about what grace is. M. Palmer who movingly recalls his Grandmother schooling him on what grace meant. His deep baritone voice touches your soul. He testifies and remembers one day hearing Amazing Grace play on radio as his dad was fixing his car. His father began to explain but broke down in tears, so he asked his Mom what it was about; she was also overcome with emotion, so he went up to see Grandma to find out what grace was. It’s really touching stuff. J. Robinson who sings and L. Stevenson who does percussion are two inmates in their 30’s who present a hip hop tune about “MC Hammer,” a song praising the holy spirit. Their spirits are not broken, they are, “Too legit to quit” having hope. It’s a cool and interesting take on faith, mixing Hammer and the Holy Spirit.

Then it’s 51 year old C. Jackson singing “Po’ Child,” a sad tome followed by testimony on the cycle of life resulting in imprisonment. ”Take Me To The King” is done by D. Justice, a 41 year old inmate. He delivers a whispered testimony with percussion as he asks to be delivered to his savior. Hemphill returns with another cut entitled “Living Testimony,” as he sings how he’s blessed to be alive, fed and clothed. It is hard to imagine that someone experiencing the prison farm can be thankful for their life.

The hymn “ I Shall Not Want” is done by 55 year old M. Kyles.  He sings acappella with grace, dignity and feeling for nearly 4 minutes of truly moving music. “I Won’t Complain” by C.S. Deloch,  a 75 year old detainee, is more unaccompanied vocals delivered with pain and tinged by the hellish life these men have lived. “God is Keeping Me” features L. Stevenson at 31 years of age and featuring C. Jackson, a 51 year old, who accompanies him. The two do a fantastic duet and play off each other. The younger voice with the older one laid over it present to us some truly deep feelings.

The bright tenor tones of L. Bron (38 years old) on “Talking About My Jesus” is short but quite emotive. Also short is “Stand For You” with 65 year old J. Sherman, whose voice cracks under emotion as he sings that only the Lord can stand for you. The finale is the entire group led  by Palmer’s deep baritone voice. They take us to church with their voices and piano as they deliver the biggest and brightest number on the album.

Brennan is a Grammy winning producer of world and traditional music and is also a renowned author. His 2022 effort at the prison farm was spiritually and emotionally moving, and this reprized effort equals the first production. Having men perform, who have spent various times behind bars in a notorious place with a horrid track record for their treatment of prisoners, who still display the hope they have through their faith in Jesus will even make non-believers get goosebumps from listening to their performances. The grace that the Lord has bestowed on them to move on from what brought them to the prison is displayed by their singing and words. Brennan appreciates the most auspicious and unlikely sources that great music can emanate from. We need to thank him for discovering and delivering this and the prior album to us.

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