The Paul Robeson Legacy - The Inverness Courier

Who would expect to find Duke Ellington's Mood Indigo, Marjory Kennedy Fraser's Eriskay Love Lilt, Woody Guthrie's Battle of Joe Hill and Hoagy Carmichael's Lazy Bones on one disc, far less reviewed in a classical record column? Yet, that was the repertoire embraced by the legendary American bass and they're all featured on this tribute by the Jamaican born opera singer who starred as Wotan in Scottish Opera's unfinished 1990's "Ring" cycle.

Backed by trumpeter Guy Barker's quintet, White concentrates for the most part on Robeson's gospel songs and they receivea toe-tapping treatment. But even more varitey - Water Boy, Summertime or Ol' Man River perhaps - would have been welcome. The life-like recording is of demonstration quality.