TESTIMONY

TESTIMONY is another sparkling example of Recorded Books' Griot Audio, which follows West Africa's storytelling tradition, illustrating the power of the spoken word. Roger McKenzie leads the Triumphant Voices of Praise gospel choir, for which he has lofty plans. However, there are many hurdles to cross going to the big time. Mason's well-developed characters bring their own secrets and baggage, which makes for a lively and ever-evolving story. Peter Jay Fernandez's characterizations, asides, and inner dialogues make the production special. This excellent read turns into a splendid listen, which includes Fernandez's beautiful (too short) choral presentation of one of the group's songs. S.G.B. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 03]