As I was writing liner notes for the next album by Cyrus Chestnut (pictured), the research led me to a remarkable performance of its title song. Published in 1989, “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” by gospel composer Doris Akers became a favorite of Elvis Presley, who sometimes sang it with The Stamps Quartet but did not record it with them. Gospel devotees consider The Stamps to be one of the genre’s quintessential groups. This may help to explain why.
In the recording, Chestnut plays “There’s A Sweet, Sweet Spirit†unaccompanied, slowly and with deep feeling. HighNote tells me they expect to release the album in July.