It's My Turn (Pinecastle, 2003)

What a fabulous project from this new group! Michelle Nixon has a commanding voice and leaves you wanting more of her time. Two of her band mates, Vernon Hughes and Jim Green, take turns on lead vocals and either could front a band on their own. The harmonies of these three are tight and sweet, sounding like they've sung together for many years. Nixon also is backed by three more instrumentalists, and they leave no doubts about why they chose the name "Drive."

This is yet another CD with ties to Tom T. and Dixie Hall who contribute two songs. Nixon shows her own writing abilities, and "Let Me Be Your Escort" is especially interesting, based on an image of an angel taking a Civil War soldier home. She reaches back several years for an excellent version of "Beneath Still Waters" and takes a gospel turn with Kirk Talley's "Step Into the Water."

Gospel, instrumental, traditional ("It's In My Mind To Wander"), they've done it right.