'Purpose + Grace' marks a bold and confident step for Simpson. The wide-ranging repertoire and exemplary performances he has coaxed from his fellow performers make this his finest recording to date. 'Purpose + Grace' takes it's very apposite title from the great American songwriter Yip Harburg (composer of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow', 'Brother Can You Spare a Dime' and 'Only a Paper Moon');"I am one of the last of a small tribe of troubadours who still believe that life is a beautiful and exciting journey with a purpose and grace well worth singing about." the album marks a bold and confident step for Simpson. Building upon the strengths of 'Prodigal Son and 'True Stories', like a movie producer, he conceived the whole project over a number of months and then invited some of his favourite musicians to bring their stellar talents to the recording sessions. Jon Boden, B J Cole, Dick Gaughan, Fay Hield, Will Pound, June Tabor and Richard Thompson join Martin's regular band - Andy Cutting, Andy Seward and Keith Angel - on an exemplary series of performances. The material shifts from Anglo-American ballads, Scots and English traditional songs to new compositions from Bruce Springsteen, Richard Thompson, the aforementioned Yip Harburg and Martin Simpson.