The Campbell Brothers take music on a spiritual odyssey

If anyone gets the nod for creating the sacred steel tradition mixing African-American gospel music with amplified steel guitar, it’s The Campbell Brothers.

Legends in their musical genre, they have interpreted John Coltrane’s spiritual work A Love Supreme and are touring it across North America with a stop at St. Albert’s Arden Theatre on Nov. 15.

It is the 50th anniversary of Coltrane’s seminal recording and the Campbells once again raise the bar with their staggering virtuosity and devout convictions on this remarkable work in the jazz canon.

When Coltrane first released the album, it stood as a stark spiritual declaration that his musical devotion was intertwined with his religious faith. And for The Campbell Brothers, whose profound spirituality is woven into their life, this was the perfect project.

“God is the ultimate love and if you can aspire to it, it’s something beyond yourself. You don’t have to live life alone. There is a higher power and it is available to everyone,” said Phillip Campbell on electric guitar and bass.

Rounding out the brothers is Chuck on pedal steel, Darick on lap eight-string steel and Carlton (Phillip’s son) on drums.

Phillip is careful to point out that they are not ham-fisted about shoving religious music down people’s throats. However, their soul-stirring blend of sacred steel gospel blended with the power and volume of electric blues and rock creates a sound that “kicks holy butt.”

First performed at the Lincoln Centre in August 2014, the Campbell’s version of A Love Supreme immediately won accolades from critics and audiences alike.

“It was a work of monumental proportions and the challenge musically was how can we do it justice and not lose the essence of what the music is about,” stated Phillip adding that the band worked on and off for a year to complete it.

Not only did they pay particular attention to Coltrane’s transcendental spiritual message, but they also needed to grow musically by learning jazz stylings.

“One of the big steps was doing research. We discovered his music was similar to the journey he went through from drug addiction to finding God as the Love Supreme.”

And the Campbell Brothers can readily relate to journeys of personal hardship. They too were part of a rebellion that evolved into a profound personal growth.

First, some history. Sacred steel music and the African-American House of God Church goes back to the 1930s when the steel guitar was added in place of organ. It was less costly and accomplished the same function.

Their father was Bishop Charles, pastor of the House of God, Keith Dominion Branch. As with other boys in the church, the Campbell boys settled into playing pedal steel and lap steel guitars.

The brothers’ raucous gospel became popular inside and outside the church. Soon they were invited to public festivals and tours.

“It was important to us that everyone know this music. It was bigger than the Campbell Brothers and we were humbled by the acclaim.”

By 2004, the national leadership changed and was dead set against the Campbell Brothers taking church music and making it available to secular audiences.

“There were many elements at play. There was the element of control. The philosophical thinking meant sacred music was not to be performed in secular venues. On the flip side, we had brought it to the people and we saw they needed to be uplifted and hear an encouraging message of hope.”

Lawsuits were filed and by 2007, the brothers were no longer part of the House of God congregation. They were not welcome in the family church and it hurt.

“Make no mistake. It was a powerful experience and God brought us through it. Strangely we’ve come to realize faith is not based in a church, but in God. It’s strange but sometimes the organization supersedes the purpose the organization exists for in the first place.”

Just as Coltrane shared his odyssey in A Love Supreme, after seven long years where The Campbell Brothers faith was tested many times, they emerge stronger than ever with their latest album Beyond the 4 Walls.

“It is our intention not to lose our roots. It harkens to our roots. It’s more of a statement of who we are. Sometimes you can lose your identity in these things, but it’s important to state who The Campbell Brothers are and it’s our determination to engage with the word of God rather than keep it secluded.”