If you’re nostalgic for the glory days of Motown, the Soul Deacons' latest release will take you back. Brother E. Clayton and his compadres have been bringing the sounds of that bygone era to enthusiastic New Mexico audiences for several years. Blues can be a tough sell in the sparsely populated, ethnically diverse Southwest; even in sophisticated Santa Fe, where the Deacons are based, musical tastes favor the extremes of mariachi and chamber music. But the same people who attend the opera will head to Evangelo's if the Soul Deacons are playing. 

Their new disc opens with the swinging "Hold Back the Night" (originally recorded by the Trammps), and Clayton shows he was born to sing this material. The lyrics are heartbreaking, but the song makes you want to dance.  The band--------Mark Esquibel on drums, Jimmy Martinez on bass, and Steve Hill on guitar------sets up the groove and rides it easy.  Steve O'Neill adds nice piano and B-3, with Trey Keepin on tenor sax and Nick Thompson on baritone. Wilson Pickett's "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You" features a sly, elegant sax solo by Thompson.  The funky jazz of "Stool Pigeon " reveals one of the Deacons' secret weapons: groovy background harmonizing by Cathryn McGill, Anne Bransford and the great Chris Calloway.  The instrumental track "The Chicken "  serves as a lesson on the elements of R & B versus funk, with lush, romantic hors that segue into scatty beats courtesy of Esquibel on drums and Kevin Miller on congas.  On " Deeper in Love with You" Martinez plays homage to Motown bassist James Jamerson, and another Pickett shouter “Don’t Knock My Love, " lets Clayton show off his blue-eyed soul. On the closer, Diane Schuur's lovely “You’ve Got to Hurt,"  Clayton's soulful piano accompanies his touching, Ray Charles--styled vocal.  
KAY CORDTZ -Blues Review

“We drove the rest of the way listening to one of the best bands I’ve heard in a long, long, time – The Soul Deacons…the songs are arranged well and the production is excellent…vocals are exciting and fresh, delivered by Brother E. Clayton…the band, all exceptional musicians, hail from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Sit back and enjoy…The Soul Deacons…SKIPPIN CHURCH!
BLUEPOWER.COM

“The Soul Deacons brings us popular songs that focus on storytelling with a backbeat, tight horns, and plenty of genuine emotion…Brother E. Clayton tells it like it is, while his big swing band and backup singerssurround him with comfortable thrills. This is one welcome session that entertains every day of the week.”
ALL ABOUT JAZZ

“The Soul Deacons are as important to Santa Fe’s identity as pastel landscapes and Concha Belts on Texas tourists…the ‘Deacons add some professional flair to Santa Fe’s music scene, which draws the attention of visitors and die-hard devotion of locals…SKIPPIN CHURCH is packed with soulful R&B classics…Brother E. has powerful blues-y vocals backed by an orchestra of professional musicians…”
WEEKLY ALIBI

“Another blue-eyed soul group that knows how to cook is The Soul Deacons, from New Mexico…SKIPPIN CHURCH starts strongly with a cover of The Trammps’ soul classic “Hold Back The Night,” featuring smooth, soulful vocals from front man Brother E. Clayton…the disc ends with one of it’s strongest numbers, the sparse “You’ve Got To Hurt,”on which Brother E. is accompanied only by his own piano playing, Steve O’Neill’s B3 and Nick Thompson’s tasteful sax solo. A fun CD.”
BLUES BYTES