To be a child held by mother or father as they sing you lullabies is to have no worries because you are safe in their loving arms. This is the idea behind The Tumbleweed Lullaby Collection, a CD by Michael John Poirier. Michael's rich sound and lyrics reveal the love of the Heavenly Father and draw us to His peace which surpasses all comprehension. This CD is packed full of music--twenty songs worth. Many are beautiful instrumentals on Michael John’s guitar and him humming a tune such as “Borealis” or “Kathryn’s Song”. The song “Questions” is a soft song about the inquisitiveness of children, either silly or deep. All these questions pop up at bedtime as you are trying to get them off to sleep. The best thing about The Tumbleweed Lullaby Collection is that it is just what every Catholic parent has been looking for, lullabies with a deep meaning rooted in our faith. Soft songs like “O St. Micheal” or “Guardian Angel” teach about the heavenly hosts  that watch over us. “Gloria” is the “Gloria in excelsis Deo” done for children.  On this recording you will hear the invitro heart beat and very first cry of baby Kathryn Marie in the song, "A New Heart Beating."  This will draw every parent back to the sacred moment of hearing their children's first heartbeats and first cries.  With all the 9-11 babies coming this is a must for every mother and father! The Tumbleweed Lullaby Collection is a wonderful addition to Michael John Poirier’s album repetoire.

Jane Chifley's CD Heartbeats is a reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary. It attempts to explain how God loves us with mercy through his Sacred Heart and the graces that come through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The songs are quiet and meditative sung with Jane’s voice and acoustic guitar. It’s nice, quiet worship music.  The CD begins with Jane singing “The Name Of  Jesus Christ,”  a song that repeats how holy His name is. The song “This Little Soul” is a refection on the Little Flower, St. Therese. “More of You” contemplates on our constant need of the mercy of God to overcome our weaknesses. Many may remember hearing Jane Chifley’s song “I Surrender” as our Song Of The Week. It is a beautiful song about giving your all to the Holy Spirit. Jane says she has a heart to see contemporary music used in evangelization and in healing and unity between churches, races and nations. Heartbeats is a CD that will do just that.

What can you say about a CD that doesn’t have any words at all, but gets you in the mood to love life and what the Lord has given you? This is what Bernard Leclerc's CD Hope & Illusion does. It's abeautiful blend of light jazz and ambient music. It‘s the type of music that gets your head moving and places you heart in the right place. Titles include “Angel in Disguise,” “Theme For A Prophet,” “The Man In The Mirror,”  “On Our Way” and much more. Even people who generally do not like instrumental music will make an exception for "Hope & Illusion." Bernard Leclerc has been writing songs and composing music since the early 1980's. For the majority of his adult life he has been working with children with special needs. The gentleness and sensitivity required for such an endeavor shines through each and every tune. The music is timeless and sure to provide hours of listening pleasure as you will want to listen to it over and over again.

The award-winning group Musikanten is the oldest choral chamber ensemble in the nation's capital. This 19 voice, a cappella choir has released a CD  called Sacred Choral Music Of Robert Evett. Who is Robert Evett? Robert Evett (1922-1975) was a highly esteemed American composer in Washington, DC, who was nominated for a Pulitzer prize. Evett composed for many genres, including orchestral and chamber music. His devout and personal choral pieces for the Catholic liturgy are undiscovered gems that deserve a wide hearing, not just on Sundays. The works on this disc, some a cappella, some with organ accompaniment, span music from Christmas to Lent, as well as the daily offices of Prime, Vespers and Compline. Musikanten has recorded these sublime interpretations in the warm environment of the Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, Maryland. Conductor and founder of the group, Kerry Krebill, directs the expressive and precise performances. You will hear beautiful versions of various Psalms (including the 23^rd), the “Alleluia,”  “Salve Regina,”  “Regina coeli” and much, much more.

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play, They've been going in and out of style, But they're guaranteed to raise a smile. So may I introduce to you…Bert Hill??? Yes, Bert Hill. Who is he and what's the Beatle reference? Bert Hill’s father was the late Beatle John Lennon’s limo driver. Lennon music style helped influence Bert ,and of course Bert’s dad being a known limo driver helped pay for Bert’s education. Many of John Lennon’s positive messages have helped to influence Bert Hill’s CD Ordinary Time.  Bert has a laid back, almost folk sound. It’s almost Test Crash Dummies meet Don McLean. Bert’s songs are reflections on life and God’s influence on it and him. “Rambler ‘68” is an excellent song about remembering memories as life is coming to an end and all is turning gray, yet God is your guide…”You’re my bright beacon, you are my best savior and best friend.”  The title track, “Ordinary Time,” is really a love song to Jesus. It’s how we are doing time while we wait for Him. “I want to break out, I want to celebrate all the sacred mysteries in Your life...”  Bert presents a beautiful adaptation of  the “Prayer of St. Francis”. He tells us he wants to be the man that God made him to be in the song “I Will Give”: “I want to live after I die, so all I have I will give.”  Ordinary Time's tempo is slow and tranquil. Among the instruments are an assortment of guitars, piano, organ, banjo, harmonica, accordion and some percussion. Bert Hill is currently a candidate for a Master's Degree in Theology at Loyola Marymount University. He volunteers as a teacher of adult and children's religious education at St. Francis of Assisi in East Los Angeles. This is a ‘don’t miss it’ kind of CD!