“A Carol for All Children”His Love SingersOpus One Studios (2018)www.opusonestudios.com By Bob Marovich Alan Salisbury and Whitney Parnell’s “A Carol for All Children” celebrates the religious differences that too often threaten to divide countries.  We are all God’s children, the song reminds, regardless of race or creed. Though the lyrics reference how cultures celebrate holidays differently, this simple, charming carol is not just for the holidays.  The four-track EP includes a gospel and choral version, directed and arranged by Charles Brown and rendered by the full-throated His Love Singers, an austere reading by the Harmony Interfaith Choir recorded live; and ...

Phillip Carter Featuring the Suwalki Workshop Choir and the Sounds of Victory Live in Suwalki, Poland SOV, Inc. (release date: January 25, 2019) www.phillipcartermusic.com By Bob Marovich The international popularity of gospel music has provided American choir directors and clinicians with opportunities to teach gospel vocal techniques to choirs in Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, and elsewhere around the world. Directors Norris Garner and Phillip Carter have found working in Poland, and specifically with talented conductor Szymon Markiewicz, to be particularly fruitful. Indeed, Carter’s collaboration with Markiewicz and the Suwalki Workshop Choir is the subject of his CD, Live in Suwalki, Poland. ...

Jarred AllStar Water and Wine Independent (release date: December 25, 2018) www.jarredallstar.com By Bob Marovich What I find particularly interesting about Christian hip hop is that, like any type of poetry, the more you listen, the more you are rewarded with new insights. Of course, not every song or poem is deep, but enough are to warrant closer investigation. This is certainly the case with Jarred AllStar Haynes’ Water and Wine. While some selections gush with the unbridled joy of salvation, others have more incisive messages. Peppering his rhymes with humorous references to popular culture, Jarred, a licensed minister, finds meaning ...

The Tommies Reunion Seven Legend Group / JMG Entertainment / Tyscot Records (release date: February 22, 2019) www.tyscot.com By Bob Marovich At their apex, Chicago’s Thompson Community Singers—known affectionately as the Tommies—were one of the most emulated gospel choirs in the country. Music ministers couldn’t wait for the next Tommies album to hit record stores so they could buy it and glean new gems to teach their own choirs. Having just surpassed the seventieth anniversary of their formation by the late Reverend Milton Brunson, the Tommies are back with their first new album in a decade. The Tommies Reunion choir ...

Congratulations to the GRAMMY Awardees in the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music categories: GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE/SONG “Never Alone,” Tori Kelly Featuring Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin and Victoria Kelly, songwriters BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE/SONG “You Say,” Lauren Daigle; Lauren Daigle, Jason Ingram and Paul Mabury, songwriters BEST GOSPEL ALBUM Hiding Place, Tori Kelly BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM Look Up Child, Lauren Daigle BEST ROOTS GOSPEL ALBUM Unexpected, Jason Crabb A shout out to other notable winners with gospel music cred: WORLD MUSIC Freedom, Soweto Gospel Choir BEST ALBUM NOTES Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William ...

Virginia Prescott of Georgia Public Broadcasting’s “On Second Thought” interviews JGM Editor-in-Chief Bob Marovich about the WXPN radio documentary Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul. Here’s a link to the interview: http://www.gpbnews.org/post/historian-explores-gospel-roots-rock-and-soul-new-documentary

Donald Lawrence Presents the Tri-City Singers Goshen RCA Inspiration (release date: February 1, 2019) www.rcainspiration.com By Bob Marovich Using Old and New Testament stories to reinforce the need for a spiritual exodus from modern-day anxieties, Goshen, the latest album by Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers, is the first big gospel release of 2019 and could well take its place among the best gospel albums of the year. Goshen, taken from references in Exodus of “God’s promised place” where one can find joy in the midst of troubled times, is a compendium of worship songs, declarations of personal empowerment, rages ...

“Deliver Me (This is My Exodus)” Donald Lawrence Presents the Tri-City Singers feat. Le’Andria Johnson From the forthcoming RCA Inspiration album Goshen (release date: February 1, 2019) www.rcainspiration.com By Bob Marovich Le’Andria Johnson has one of the most searing voices in gospel music today. But like any singer, or actor for that matter, the material (song, film) makes the difference. Le’Andria is at her best when presented with good gospel material. Like “Deliver Me (This is My Exodus),” her feature turn with Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers. From the troupe’s thematic album Goshen, this reflection on spiritual release from ...

JGM learned the shocking news that Marlowe Cribbs passed away. Here is Marlowe’s bio, courtesy of his website: “Raised in the home of a former Blues musician and influenced by Gospel music at an early age, M. E. Cribbs had no choice but to develop an eclectic musical ear. This would serve him greatly as he excelled in his musical ventures. He is considered a lyricist of the highest order and with artists, such as The Chicago Mass Choir, Dorinda Clark-Cole, New Direction, Reed’s Temple Choir, and Mark Hubbard & The United Voices in his clientry, this has been proven ...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (January 16, 2019) – The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com are proud to announce the nominees for the 2019 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards. As in years past, the nominees were chosen by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com and select media representatives. Starting on Monday, January 21, 2019, the fans will get a chance to vote for their favorites in several categories. “Once again, another year has come and gone, and we start this process all over again,” said Deon Unthank, President/CEO of AbsolutelyGospel.com. “This will be our 15th live show that we’ve produced, and we know that they ...