Click here for to read a full review of The Sarah Arthur Project on Beat

Here is a quote from that review:

“This project is rooted in the idea of sanity—where emotional, spiritual, and intellectual well-being are aligned to resist destruction and embrace healing,” the creative team shared. That message is clearly resonating. With early international interest already building, especially in Israel and across Europe, the album’s July 4th release promises to deliver a rare fusion of artistry and purpose.

Click here to read a review of The Sarah Arthur Project on Music-News

Here is a quote from that review:

“In a year crowded with headlines, distractions, and despair, Sarah Arthur reminds us that art still has a role to play in shaping the conversation. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t sell easy fixes. Instead, it listens, and in doing so, invites us to do the same”

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Hickman Peacock Review:

Sim Hickman and Louly Peacock recently reviewed my new album Sarah Arthur, the Spiritual Journey of an American Jewish Woman, a folk musical. Full disclosure, we traded reviews of our both fine albums. Thanks Sim and Louly:

The Sarah Arthur Project

By Alan Graf

Co-Produced by Charlie Shew

Louly Peacock and Simeon Hickman are local Asheville musicians who have recorded three records together and played over 100 shows in Asheville. Recently, they had the privilege of listening to and reviewing Alan Graf’s new compilation, The Sarah Arthur Project, released on July 4th, 2025.

Alan Graf’s album/ bio-story about Sarah is incredibly moving and detailed , showing different parts of her life and hearkening back to her childhood and background in Europe. The songs carry a narrative of her journey to the states, as well as Sarah’s father Bernard’s story of coming to the U.S. after surviving Nazi Germany and subsequently returning to fight the Nazis; the latter starts the album and is a miracle in itself. The family created their own beautiful impact on the United States. I love the song, “Frieda,” because it talks about Bernard’s sister who came with him and how creativity is an essential part of activism. “Invisible man” is also a song that will resonate with many, as it explores being from another country and feeling like you are literally an alien. Sarah‘s journey continues through song across the years, always showing how she used her own difficulties and experiences to help other people, specifically people from Guatemala and other countries torn by war.

Many excellent studio musicians participated in this album, and it is cool to hear the variety of rock ‘n’ roll,jazz, and other genres of music portraying the story depending on the themes and times of the songs. The narrator, a woman with a thick New York accent, is also very helpful in moving the story along; her tone and choice of language adding to the realism of the story. The narrated sections are interspersed with the songs, revealing the topic topic(s) explored in the previous and upcoming tunes. Its a well used strategy in this genre, and is employed effectively throughout the record.

The first part of the story has a modern Klezmer feel that reminds us of musicals written in this genre, though later in the album, the sounds follow the music that is contemporaneous with Sarah at the time in her life that the “song’ takes place.

“You Gotta Go Home” is one of the most touching of these songs because it kind of hits all of us when we feel like we’re in an foreign land and we can’t meet the loves that we want. It sounds like the narrator Sara is feeling that need to go home to what she feels like her place. There are many very stark parallels between the Holocaust and the way immigrants are treated nowadays in this country, clearly a pronounced effort to make these comparisons.

The narration keeps the story moving along, and I love the story about Sara joining a Kibbutz and sitting down in the field and thinking about her past life which, as the narrator says, was a present to her future; we found it very poetic and a nice way to present the next song and experiences coming up for Sara.

Some of the songs that we liked the most were “One Day at a Time” and ”Everyone was Crazy in my House,” which captured the feelings and emotions of Sarah when she came back to the United States. It is ironic that she came back to the United States only to find things in complete chaos after such a wonderful time in Israel, but she also shows incredible resilience that she must have acquired from her family. The “Face of a Clown” is a very accurate portrayal of what’s happening, but also demonstrates what folks like Sarah have done to try to improve things, especially in the face of all the chaos in the United States. I like the story arc of how she has had to overcome adversity in some ways, a lot like her family, but in the country where she has chosen to live. Maybe doing so is part of the human condition, no matter where one lives.

“Seasons” hits really hard because we all love our kids and want them to learn and listen to us. It’s really a touching song that to us is the climax of the album, almost like a lullaby, quite a nice visual of the family on a front porch. “Ferryman” which comes after this song has more of a sense of the earlier songs with clarinet and a jazz feel, something that many listeners may love, but others may find a little “old-timey.” This record is a story with multiple genres of music, not a typical release of popular music. It is what separates it from much of the music released today.

Alan Graf has shared his life’s journey here in an unusual way. The lyrics and music are varied and on point and provide realistic and vulnerable backdrops to his life and his parents’ life stories. They ebb and flow with the story arc and take us on a rich and emotional journey through his experiences, culminating with this project. The Sarah Arthur project definitely shows how human beings can create art out of chaos and destruction.As said at the end, it finds meaning in this “troubled world.”

Charlie Shew co-produced the musical. Clearly he and Alan Graf spent many days and nights bringing the many artists together in this project of hope and love.

We look forward to Alan’s next release.