Because

A valued member of John Eliot Gardiner’s Monteverdi Choir (you may have seen him at King Charles III’s pre-Coronation concert), the American countertenor Reginald Mobley has a flexible, warm voice capable of great expressiveness. For his solo debut recording he’s chosen a collection of spirituals that spotlights African American heritage and its ugly slavery past. Partnered by the inventive, richly textured playing of the jazz pianist Baptiste Trotignon (who goes solo for “Why”), Mobley energises these songs, often highly optimistic thanks to their palpable religious belief. “Steal Away” is truly moving thanks to its restraint, while “Deep River” has a gorgeous ballad-like quality. There are a few surprises too, including a version of the Motown hit “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” that’s just terrific.