It's very fortunate that we live in a time when many international cultural heritage - are protected - by which organizations whatsoever. That there still so many local cultural heritage is that needs to be either gently raised or resurrected sensitive, usually lies with a private initiative. The opera singer, tenor and entertainer Jay Alexander has not only personally met with the album "homeland" a heart's desire, but awakens with the memory of his own childhood and youth 14 folk songs to life. With this kind of "treasure excavation" he comes to very gently. Allen he leaves the original melody, it takes almost sentimental in his arm and caresses them so sensitive that the fascination of folk songs can be felt in their original force. Whether it "the loveliest meadow", the "Heidenröslein" or "Cute Little Anny" are carried credible presentation of Alexander to touching small "audio stories" or sung "color image", which is simply exhilarating. He takes the audience on a memory journey whose stations are long forgotten, even thought even passed, and employs its expressive opera voice naturally and yet pointedly a ("An der Saale bright beach", "In a cool valley", "I do not know what it is intended to mean "or" At the fountain in front of the gates "). Amazingly, while very important, however, is his respect for this little "cultural treasures", he encounters unpretentious and gives them appropriate respect. Together with the Melidonie Orchestra voices, balanced line by Adrian Werum one learns in the soulful arrangements of Richard Whilds also in other folk songs ("Sleep, my little prince", "Im Abendrot", "I've seen the spring") the strong attachment Jay Alexander to nature, to home. But what really go into raptures - whether the compelling atmosphere - you can at "There were two royal children", "From the youth" or (and this is my personal favorite) "The moon has risen". And when the Aurelius Sängerknaben Calw, which can be heard also in four other songs, with "God has made everything right" the recordings a cappella decide you know what distinguishes this album and makes it so unique - soul! - Claus Peter Koscielny, ORPHEUS music magazine -
