After his first album "Because" (ALPHA936), which was dedicated to Afro-American spirituals and received several awards (Opus Klassik, Edison Klassiek, Grammy Award nomination), the American countertenor Reginald Mobley dedicates this new recording to the English repertoire in the primarily simple combination of voice, lute and viola da gamba. "Solitude" opens with Henry Purcell's poignant "Tis Nature's Voice" and other famous Purcell melodies, sails on through John Dowland's deeply melancholy waves and also allows us to discover the declamatory charm of the English composers of the 17th century around Samuel Pepys. We then travel to America, where contemporary composers Jonathan Woody and Douglas Balliett explore "the indomitable resilience in the story of a runaway slave" as told by the brilliant African-American haiku poet Crystal Simone Smith. With Brandon Acker on lute, theorbo and baroque guitar and Douglas Balliett on viola da gamba and double bass, Reginald Mobley concludes this intimate journey with songs arranged by 19th century black American guitarist, composer and abolitionist Justin Holland.

Henry Purcell: 'Tis Nature's Voice aus Hail, bright Cecilia; Music for a While; O Solitude, my sweetest Choice
+Francesco Corbetta: Chiacona
+Pietro Reggio: David
+John Blow / Cesare Morelli: Go, perjured Man
+Samuel Pepys / Cesare Morelli: Beauty, retire!; Phoebus, God beloved by Men
+John Eccles: Ground aus The Mad Lover Suite
+John Dowland: Flow, my Tears; Sorrow, stay; Fortune my Love; Time stands still
+Douglas Bailliett: Sam; Ely or July
+Jonathan Woody: Ain't you my Child
+William Foden: Barcarolle
+William Marshall Hutchison / Justin Holland: Dream Faces
+Caroline Norton / Justin Holland: Juanita
+Henry Clay Work / Justin Holland: The Ship that never returned