“Keepers of the Flame” is the stirring new single from Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road. Culled from their latest album release, Country Grass II, “Keepers of the Flame” has an outstanding pedigree. Written by respected singer/songwriter David Stewart, Jordan and Carolina Road supply a likely definitive interpretation of the track that embodies classic bluegrass virtues. The measured pace of the single develops the ideas underlying “Keepers of the Flame” without falling prey to pretense.
There’s certainly poetic beauty infused into the song. The straightforward vocal delivery is full-on purist bluegrass. However, it never sounds hazy or undefined. I hear enough of a declamatory tilt in the lead vocals that it gives this tribute to a pure artistic aesthetic a vaguely preachy tone. The presentation reinforces the idea that Jordan and Carolina Road consider themselves keepers of the flame, without question, but it never gets too heavy-handed. The artists refrain from exploiting the song’s theatrical potential.
It comes across as a spontaneous performance despite its lofty subject matter. Stewart’s language stays on the ideal listener’s level. His songwriting realizes a pleasing inevitability about the song lyrics as they evolve in a predictable but skillful and satisfying way. Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road balance the vocal and musical content.
The brief bursts of instrumental flash, within a bluegrass context, first serve the song. Jordan and Carolina Road eschew any pseudo-virtuosic flourishes in favor of a song-first mentality. Everything they play finds the forward movement of “Keepers of the Flame” rather than weighing down the arrangement with useless ornamentation. The immersion in traditional bluegrass is obvious for each musician involved.
It doesn’t make “Keepers of the Flame” a museum piece. This is an impassioned statement of artistic intent. Anyone performing David Stewart’s song aligns themselves with an ongoing tradition. It doesn’t view the art of playing, singing, and writing songs as entertainment alone. Donning that mantle is a convincing lift for Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road. Their take on Stewart’s “Keepers of the Flame” is appropriately respectful, yet intensely alive.
It’s entertaining hearing how little audible work it requires. The total talents of Jordan and Carolina Road’s five members tackle “Keepers of the Flame” as if it’s second nature to them. The best always make things sound effortless. This single produces a gentle surge from near its beginning that moves listeners along at the right pace toward the track’s inevitable conclusion.
The instrumental contributions are substantial, but the vocals deserve the lion’s share of credit for the song’s success. It doesn’t rely on abundant vocal harmony parts. A central lead vocal, largely unadorned, steers much of “Keepers of the Flame”, and vocal harmonies are used as dramatic effects. The results are rewarding to hear.
The song checks off every requirement. Generous melodic touches, musical energy, invigorating vocals, and nuance are present from the first and offer several inroads to enjoying this tune. You’re unlikely to feel in half measures about the new Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road tune. You’ll either love it or dismiss it with a wave of your hand. The latter would be a mistake. “Keepers of the Flame” offers a bounty of joy for listeners and continues to pay off over time.
Cleopatra Patel