Published:Saturday, June 28, 2008 (vindy.com)

“The Spirit of New Orleans” by Liz McComb (GVE): Liz McComb was born in Cleveland, made her name — and part-time home — in Paris and now has released a jazzy gospel CD that is all New Orleans. Many of the songs on the 12-track project are, for the most part, old-time gospel standards such as “Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” “I Know It Was the Blood,” and “You've Got to Move.” But all of the songs are, indeed, recorded in the true musical flavor of the Crescent City with its thick jazz underpinnings. “When you talk about jazz music, you have got to go to New Orleans,” McComb said. “And you can't just go to the jazz spots, you've got to visit the churches — where people bring their instruments right on inside.” She released the CD in Europe in April 2001 to wide acclaim there but was concerned how her jazz approach would be accepted in her native United States. She shouldn't have worried. While some gospel purists might take issue, McComb indeed captures the “spirit” of New Orleans, and few true music fans — gospel or otherwise — can argue with that.