By: Michelle Mills
Excerpt from San Gabriel Valley Tribune
One listen to the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles’ new album, “Lean into the Wind,” and any visions of nuns spouting sassy songs and slowly strumming acoustic guitars will disappear.
“I’m not sure what I expected, but I know I didn’t expect this,” John Sutton said. “My only experience with singing nuns is Sally Fields. I thought it would be pedestrian and a female version of chant. It was a big wonderful surprise.”
Sutton is the chair of choral activities and conductor of Oratorio Choir and University Choir and Orchestra at Azusa Pacific University, as well as the artistic director of the Angeles Chorale. He said that “Lean into the Wind,” which was released in March, is positive and joyful with intricate arrangements and professional production.
“It’s complex, the harmonies, the layers, the textures, the variety of sounds that they’re augmenting their voices with and the singing is beautiful. It’s not homegrown, sit around the campfire,” Sutton said. “Beautiful voices and beautiful tones… and everything else that they added into it, the cello, the violin, the oboe, the harp, the French horn — it’s all done at a very high level.”
Sutton was also delighted to discover “Ready,” a song that boasts rock guitar…
