There's never a shortage of spark or invention when it comes to the Harper Family's latest "Through It All."  For a trio of reasons, this family group has a way of taking us out of our comfort zones challenge our preconceptions and deconstruct our prejudices.  First, bluegrass music has often been unjustly denigrated as music for the pure exhibition of one's picking virtuoso.  Precisely because bluegrass music is organic often untouched by digital or computerized augmentations, the ability to play each instrument well is vital to the success of the record.  However, many bluegrass artists have spent so much time perfecting their instrumental craft that the quality of the songs comes secondary.  Thus, instead of boring us with the repeated same old lightning speed bluegrass romps right through the record, the Harpers have kept two things on the keel  ---  well-chosen variegated songs as well as sublime instrumentation.   Second, the Harper Family has a way of stretching our imagination when they have taken songs such as Andrea Crouch's "Through It All" and Lois Gail Sypolt's "The Judgement" stripped them of their familiarity before dressing them in dazzling new arrays.  Third and most importantly, part of the Harper clan, Dalton Harper who is only 20 years-old was recently diagnosed with cancer.  Instead of just throwing in the saddle, Dalton not only sings and plays guitar here on this record but he even wrote one of the album's highlight tunes "Child of God." 

The Harper Family consists of Hanna, Dillon, Dalton, Katrina, Gaylon and Makeena.  Each one them is musically gifted as they contribute various instruments on the record including guitar, mandolin, upright bass, fiddle and banjo.  Helmed by Tim Surrett in the producer chair, Surrett is also part of the bluegrass Gospel award winning Balsam Range.  "Through It All" features two originals from the Harpers.  The first of which is the aforementioned Dalton Harper's "Child of God."  Instead of wallowing in self- deprecation in the light of his recent bout with cancer, Dalton tunnels his vision on the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is only at the Cross we can parlay our fears; and it is only from the resurrection we are guaranteed of our ultimate healing.  Thus, on this chugging mid-tempo, with vocals that has some sonic resemblance to a subdued Tim McGraw, we hear these liberating words:  "Now my life has new meaning/I let my Savior lead my life/He speaks to me now through His teachings/And He taught me how to be His light."  Katrina Harper puts her pen to work with the deftly crafted narrative "Don't You Want to Meet Him."  Utilizing Mark 2 as the song's thesis where friends lowered a paralytic down to Jesus by digging a hole in the roof Katrina reminds us that we too can have a similar encounter with Jesus.

"In a Moment Like This" has a slice of autobiography invested as the song speaks about a patient who has had received news from the doctor about an unfavorable report.  Many of us have been in those shoes before; the value of "In a Moment Like This" is that it not only identifies with us but it actually gives us some handles of what we can do in such times.  While "In Moments Like This" deal with the moment of crisis; the Andrea Crouch's title tune "Through It All" is a testimony of how a person has had survived after a length of time of testing has passed.  Having stripped "Through It All" from all the usual churchy hoopla, the family's rendition is more of a personal attestation of God's mercy and grace after a lengthy epoch of struggles and fears.  The simplicity of the lonesome sounds of the banjo and the heart rendering sounds of the fiddle just have a way of giving voice to the dreaded silence we often feel in the midst of the suffering.  But the family's sensitive rendering that God has a way of bringing us out of the darkest tunnels is so genuine that it almost feels as though they are the whispers of God to our hearts.   

"Spirit Wind," just like the aforementioned "Don't You Want to Meet Him," is another fine example of where the Harper Family would take a pericope of Scripture and apply it to our contemporary settings.  In this case Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones is contextualized to how God continues to breathe His Spirit to work in our churches today.  While the thoughtful "Wherever You Are" is a reminder of God's presence for those who are the crossroads of decision making and stepping out in faith.  "Through It All" not only scores high in terms of its enjoyable quotient, it also excels with wisdom and Godly advice for all of us that are struggling.  Not only do these 10 songs depict scenarios so real and vivid, but they also give us handles on how to cope in such circumstances in ways that are God-fearing and Cross-honoring.