From North Carolina, Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road seem to be one of the hardest working bluegrass bands in the business. Besides owning, operating and streaming live entertainment from Lorraine’s Coffee House in Garner, N.C., Jordan performs, tours and records regularly. During the last twenty years, the mandolinist has been involved with no less than about ten albums on various labels. You may have heard of the highly-acclaimed Daughters of Bluegrass multi-album project featuring women in that genre, or the Country Grass project that featured guest appearances by many top-notch country musicians. Her bands have always included both secular and sacred music on the West Station, Blue Circle, Rural Rhythm and Pinecastle labels. Some previous gospel releases include Road Trip for the Lord (no label) and Why Don’t You Give Jesus a Try (Blue Circle). Her 2018 project on Pinecastle was True Grass Again. Now in 2021, I Can Go To Them is a Gospel CD dedicated to all the band members’ mothers who always offered wisdom, advice and support. If their a cappella rendition of “I Cannot Bring Them Back (But I Can Go to Them)” doesn’t bring a nostalgic tear to your eye, then nothing will.

Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road have an honest traditional sound that lifts the spirit. Gospel songs they choose are mostly classic favorites that we never tire of hearing and singing.  Songs like “Going Up,” “Brush Harbors,” “I Heard My Mother Call My Name in Prayer,” “Gotta Travel On,” “Further Along” and “Happy on My Way” emphasize passion and respect, along with Christian messages that provide guidance and direction. The arrangements are straight-forward without any tricks or antics, and some include fingerpicked guitar. With four lead vocalists, there’s plenty of variety. You may tune in to the groove of “Harp with Golden Strings” or perk up at the lively “He Will Set Your Fields on Fire.”

To bring the word of God through their ministry of bluegrass gospel music, Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road’s I Can Go To Them offers exhilarating and heartfelt messages, complemented by the adept picking by Lorraine Jordan (mandolin), Ben Greene (banjo), Randy Graham (guitar), Allen Dyer (guitar), Kevin Lamm (bass), Matt Hopper (fiddle) and Joe Pessolano (guitar). Their rousing, spirited sound is sure to please and inspire. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)