We bless this week with both a studio and a live version of Pharoah Sanders gracing us with “Let Us go Into The House Of The Lord.” Vocalist Heidi Vogel serenades us with brilliant interpretations of Brazilian music. We close with 15 takes on the gospel classic, “There Is A Balm In Gilead” featuring Donna Weaver, John Blake Jr, Nnenna Freelon, Kamau Daaood, Sunny Sumter, Courtney Bryan, Larry Willis, Mahalia Jackson, Archie Shepp, Rhoda Scott, The Clark Sisters, Karen Clark-Sheard, Soweto Gospel Choir, and Nina Simone.

We open with a classic celebration of Etta James, who quiet as it was kept was one of the most versatile singers of her generation. We continue with a brilliant tribute to Gil Scott-Heron put together by Sandra Nkake with the help of a bevy of musicians. South African rappers Tumi and Zubz recall and reinterpret their Kwaito roots with a new Mixtape to close out the week.

We’re back on track with the New Year 2012. After a serious hack, a system upgrade, software upgrade, and a short illness, Breath of Life returns looking forward to a year of beautiful music. We begin 2012 with bossa nova legend Nara Leao, and follow up with an album’s worth of music from Black Star courtesy of DJ Lt. Dan. We close out with installment #4 of Stevie Wonder covers featuring Dee Daniels, Caron Wheeler, Cedar Walton, Kaoma, Gal Costa, Sandra de Sa, Sergio Mendes & Brazil ’77, Roberta Flack, Dave Pietro, Sunny Sumter, Grover Washington Jr., Nnenna Freelon, and, of course, Stevie Wonder.