After his Ropeadope debut – On Our Way To Forever – and his gritty, stripped down album of salt of the earth tunes – Boxcar Blues – Jim Stephens returns with his opus. Songs Of Healing:Philassippiola Soul brings Stephens full vision into view, with classics like Down By The Riverside and Baby Please Don’t Go interspersed with his soulful gospel-tinged compositions. The process is one of inclusion, with a solid cast of inspiring musicians from Chuck Treece, Doug Grisby, Pablo Batista, Lucky Thompson, and many more contributing their unique styles in the arranging and recording process. This is a record of the people, by the people, and for the people. Laments on life’s struggles with a positive message of fortitude and hope color the pages of Philassipiola Soul.