Revolution feat. Candi Staton

MAVIS
Presented by Ashley Beedle & Darren Morris
!K7249CD

Ashley Beedle's MAVIS project was originally sparked three years ago when he and
musical partner Darren Morris had an evening listening to Mavis Staples and the
Staples Singers. The pair were so blown away, this inspired them to create an
instrumental which became the basis for the MAVIS album.

To Ashley, Mavis Staples and the Staples Singers have always been hugely iconic.
"They're the glue in our DNA", says Ashley, "Not only was their recorded work
amazing but their involvement in the Civil Rights movement really meant something
to me."

Over the last year this instrumental has engaged a plethora of the globe’s vocal
talent, whom have contributed their own stories and tales from the heart, following
the inspirational Mavis trail, steered by Ashley and Darren. Revered artists such as
Lambchop’s Kurt Wagner, Candi Staton, Ed Harcourt, Edwyn Collins, Cerys Matthews
and Saint Etienne's Sarah Cracknell have thrown themselves heart and soul into the
MAVIS mix, paving the way for a palette of fresh talent such as Crazy P’s Danielle
Moore, John Turrell of Smoove & Turrell, Disa from Reykjavik and Dear Reader’s
Cherilyn MacNeil from South Africa. The vocal talent appearing on MAVIS is
evocative, aspirational, inspirational and honest.

MAVIS is a project that prides itself in being steeped in rich musical history, which
will not only reach out to and seduce a more mature music-loving audience, but
will also tantalise the eclectic taste buds of younger generation of fans – those
who would naturally gravitate towards Ashley’s dance music world. Ashley,
Darren and this team of talented artists have steered this music of classic
heritage into a contemporary context, the result being a modern and timeless
musical adventure which still maintains the messages and inspirations of the
original piece.

‘Listen. Dreaming of Mavis, some singers, some kindred spirits, lovingly selected,
having never met, each other or her, passing on their feelings, from song to song,
meeting place to meeting place, finding their Mavis, loving her in the imagination,
praising Mavis, the way her hands moved, how she breathed, the rebellious wisdom,
the faith, sorrow and trust, the inner mystery, gracing Mavis, the city she built, the
mountains she moved, the beautiful and tough songs she sung, out of heavy
shadows and great light, ruins and fragments, mouth and nerve.’ Paul Morley 2009

All Hail Mavis.