Alison Krauss I Know Who Holds Tomorrow CD

Alison Krauss & The Cox Family: Alison Krauss (vocals, fiddle, viola), Suzanne Cox, Evelyn Cox, Lynn Cox, Willard Cox, Sidney Cox (vocals).

I KNOW WHO HOLDS TOMORROW won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Southerm Gospel, Country Gospel Or Bluegrass Gospel Album.

It's a fact. Alison Krauss has the sweetest voice this side of heaven. Krauss' rapturous lead vocals and angelic harmonies, combined with the simplicity of the blugrass/gospel Cox family, are breathtakingly plain and sweet. With voices melding as one, Alison becomes an easy fit--almost familial--with the Cox clan. Suzanne Cox's warbly, fluid soprano is another cornerstone of this collection of traditional and contemporary hymns, and Willard Cox adds the laconic vocals that are so important to the genre. As usual, Alison's backing band, Union Station, is tasteful and first-rate. Highlights include a rocking version of Paul Simon's "Loves Me Like A Rock" and a spirited, old-timey version of Loretta Lynn's "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven."

I KNOW WHO HOLDS TOMORROW transcends genre; displaying dashes of soul and jazz, it becomes an uplifting piece of art. Yet it is also an understated recording, acoustic yet powerful. It was a well-deserved winner of a 1995 Grammy Award and brought overdue recognition for the extraordinary singer, fiddler and (now) producer, Alison Krauss. It is a masterful collaboration.

On this outing, we find Alison Krauss paired up with the first family of bluegrass gospel, the Cox Family. Hailing from Cotton Valley, Louisiana, the Cox Family epitomizes the gentility of American devotional music. Krauss and the Coxes are backed up on this disc by the great Union Station. As expected, there are many fine instrumental moments heard throughout. However, I KNOW WHO HOLDS TOMORROW clearly features the voices of Kruass and the Coxes.

Krauss sings lead on only three pieces, but Suzanne and Evelyn Cox carry the message of faith as beautifully as one could imagine. Highlights include the waltzing "Remind Me, Dear Lord" and the swinging cover of the Paul Simon tune "Loves Me Like a Rock," which shows a more modern side to the Cox Family. Clearly though, it is the Ron Block tune "In the Palm of Your Hand" that is the album's high point. On this song of love and purity, Krauss's vocal melts your heart and reminds you why she is so beloved by fans of traditional American music.

Recorded at Nightingale Studio, Nashville, Tennessee.

Personnel: Alison Krauss (vocals, fiddle, viola); Willard, Evelyn , Lynn, Sidney, Alison, Suzanne Cox (vocals); Ron Block (guitar, banjo); Kayton Roberts (steel guitar); Rob Ickes (dobro); Adam Steffey (mandolin); Andrea Zonn (fiddle); Gary W. Smith, Gary Smith (piano); Viktor Krauss (acoustic bass, electric bass); Barry Bales (acoustic bass); Kenny Malone (drums, percussion).

Audio Mixer: Gary Paczosa.

Recording information: Nightingale Studio.

Photographer: Peter Nash.

Arranger: Alison Krauss.

Additional personnel: Ron Block (guitar, banjo), Rob Ickes (dobro), Adam Steffey (mandolin), Andrea Zonn (fiddle), Gary Smith (piano), Barry Bales (acoustic bass), Viktor Krauss (acoustic, electric & arco basses), Kenny Malone (drums, percussion).Rolling Stone (2/10/94, p.46) - "...The heavenly trill of Alison Krauss makes even such mellifluous songbirds as Emmylou Harris and Iris DeMent sound earthbound....Krauss could well establish herself as the finest female country singer of her generation..."