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 Have A Little Faith Known since the early 1950's for her jaw-dropping vocal presence as the youngest member of The Staple Singers, Mavis began her solo career in the late 1960's on Stax, continuing after the family group's disbanding with an unpredictability that included cameos (such as her joining with BeBe and CeCe Winans on their cover of "I'll Take You There") to 1993's The Voice (produced by Prince) to more recent collaborations with artists such as Dr. John and Bob Dylan (see album review).  But on Have A Little Faith, the Chicago-based singer surpasses all of that.Featuring production assistance from Jim Tullio, Staples simply dazzles with her collection of down home, gritty, Gospel numbers that hearken back to The Staple Singers' heyday, but also so easily fits into today's musical world. This is one of those albums that needs to be listened to in its entirety, for a true appreciation of Staples' artistry. There's a consistency and a fluidity that is becoming increasingly rare in today's album glut. The opening cut, "Step Into The Light", sets the acoustic, rootsy focus of the album, with special guests The Dixie Hummingbirds adding their solid vocal foundation to the collection of guitars, clavinet, percussion and bass to that instrumental bed. "Pops Recipe" is a bass-driven, organ-swirled tribute to Mavis' father, Roebuck "Pops" Staple. And on a couple of other cuts, Pops himself added his guitar to the mix (prior to his passing in late 2000): "There's A Devil On The Loose" is a new cut in the classic 'message song' style, while "I Wanna Thank You" is an atmospheric meditation on thankfulness to God.  On "In Times Like These", Staples recruits fellow Windy City legend, Jesse Dixon, who leads the Chicago Music Community Choir on the song. The result is a no-holds-barred Gospel outflow.Also especially notable are the title track and "God Is Not Sleeping", both which showcase Mavis' diverse vocal palette, but in different settings. Her ability to switch it up from laid-back soul grooves to driving tour-de-forces, is wonderful. Fittingly, the project ends with that Staples classic, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". The spiritual was a trademark song for the group, with Pops usually handling lead vocals. Mavis takes that role here, taking the torch handed to her and working it for all its worth. Yes, the circle remains complete.
Email This To A Friend Alligator Records — reviewed by Stan North —
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