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The new album from Darren Bartlett & Salvacosta - BELIEVE - packed with new arrangements and up to the minute tracks as featured in live Concerts.

"Easy listening musical experience through close harmony to gospel, from solo voice to choral group, incorporating Christian themes and musical theatre"

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A review by Assistant Territorial Music Director Andrew Blyth THIS compact disc, the first by the songsters under the leadership of Songster Leader Darren Bartlett, celebrates the promise of God through a selection of beautiful songs, many written or arranged by Darren himself. Having heard the songsters in concert, I looked forward to having the chance to hear them ‘at home' and the result was a different, but an equally fulfilling experience. First, the presentation and layout of the CD are excellent. (I have recently seen the International Staff Band's new recording Supremacy, which has a similar cover, although I am sure you would not get the two groups mixed up!) The Promise - an excellent theme - is well presented through the musical menu and also with cover notes that explain the purpose and motivation for the choice of songs. The songsters are in excellent form and it is evident that they benefit from good choral training - ‘The Promise', ‘A Quiet Place' and ‘Lord Keep Us Safe' are such examples. While giving a blessing and uplift, there is also an appreciation for the hard work in ensuring that the music is sung with clear diction and good vowel shapes. There are one or two surprising moments - for example the interesting placing of the powerful ‘Doxology' as song number two on the CD! A lovely contrast is created with five of the younger male songsters singing the beautiful worship song 'I Give You My Heart' and a group of women singing the equally charming ‘You're My Child'. Darren's ability as a singer and writer is well known and respected, and he takes the lead in a clever gospel arrangement of the old tune ‘Covenant'. This song is a highlight for me - a great arrangement, sung with a good understanding of the genre from the songsters. The Promise is a disc that conveys a real celebration and joy of what God's love gives and means to those who believe. Boscombe Songsters certainly convey that promise and I would recommend this as a must for anyone who celebrates that promise too!

A review by Barbara Allen - Pasadena Tabernacle U.S.A The simplicity of the single word "Believe" as the title of Darren Bartlett"s latest recording belies the intensity of the "belief" experience and, indeed, the listening experience one is about to have. When I first heard the somewhat ethereal a capella beginning of "Enter, Enter", the first track, I was filled with curiosity as to just what this recording would hold. What I found was a plethora of musical styles and treatments of the voice that both delighted and intrigued me. Teaming with Salvacosta, a group he founded in 2000, Darren Bartlett, not only the soloist, but also the Director of the group and arranger of much of the material contained within "Believe", has an all-too-rare understanding of the beauty of the human voice and harnesses such qualities in his arrangements. The way the recording is compiled is as a patchwork of sacred and secular songs ( the latter having overt references to the notion of faith and belief such as "You Are The Wind Beneath My Wings") tastefully brought together into one entity .Indeed, one could say that "Believe" is actually two separate recordings under one canopy designed to reach out to the believer and non- believer alike through a well thought out choice of music. Not only is the recording well produced, but the voices of Salvacosta possess such a vocal cohesiveness and clarity that I was not left listening intently in order to hear words or melodies drowning in accompaniment or over treatment, but rather, was able to calmly absorb the spirit of the music. Darren"s experience and training in musical theatre is very prevalent in his presentation of "You"re Still You" and the title track "Believe" from the movie "The Polar Express" and one feels that he is singing just for you. Having seen Darren "live", this recording succeeds in capturing the tonal qualities and subtle nuances of his expressive voice even without the benefit of the visual element of his performance. Also worthy of note are "Lord of Love"( soloist: Kelly Woods) and "Shenandoah". The lush a capella harmonies towards the end had me hitting the repeat button again and again, if only to wallow in the glorious antithetical glissandos in the last measure. I loved that! "Believe" is a journey, a pilgrimage through life"s changing scenery. Its songs endeavour to strike a chord with the listener and enable an easy crossing over from one style to another whilst never losing sight of its single common goal - to share the unquestionable belief that we as Christians have in the truths of the Gospel. What better purpose for a music ministry could there be?