KJ Scriven – The Acoustic Experiment

KJ Scriven

The Acoustic Experiment (2011)

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog

Experiment is the key word in KJ Scriven’s six-track The Acoustic Experiment. 

While acoustic guitar in gospel is not unheard of—it was an essential tool of quartet singing for decades—as a main instrument, it is new to contemporary gospel.  I first heard an acoustic guitar used prominently in gospel ten years ago, on Israel Houghton’s Real.  As an acoustic player myself, it piqued my curiosity and I felt it set the right mood for Israel’s musings.  Although picking up traction, especially in the wake of the multicultural, multi-genre praise and worship phenomenon, the acoustic six-string is still a relative newcomer to the urban gospel scene.

KJ Scriven, a musician’s son from Fayetteville, North Carolina, is the latest young artist to unplug his praise.  Gathering Kenny Oxendine and Nelson Moore, who assist on guitars/bass and drums, respectively, Scriven lifts his worship nice and easy. 

“Words Of My Mouth” (Psalm 19:14) is an appropriate opening track: a prayerful, introspective mantra that paves the way for gently rhythmic tracks such as “I Will Trust.”  By “Without You,” which closes the EP/mini-album, the volume, intensity, and electricity are potted up but the music is still delicately delivered.

Of the six selections, “Love’s Paradox” is the most interesting not only because of its head-shaking but appreciative view of God who loves His people even when they hurt Him, but also for its Edge-like layers of throbbing electric guitar and seamless interpolation of the gospel hymn, “Yes, Jesus Loves Me.”

KJ Scriven is a thoughtful, earnest singer with the ideal voice (think John Legend meets Dave Matthews) for the alt-gospel ensemble he has assembled.