Richard Smallwood with Vision Anthology Live RCA Inspiration (release date: June 29, 2015) By Bob Marovich Arguably the most anticipated gospel album thus far this year is Richard Smallwood with Vision’s Anthology Live. The seminal group’s first project in four years is a double-CD live recording that offers new selections as well as an extended retrospective of Smallwood’s artistic legacy. In addition to reflecting on his own opus, Smallwood pays tribute to the Roberta Martin Singers, Edwin Hawkins, and Andrae’ Crouch—gospel legends who inspired him to play, write, and direct. The Martin Singers, and especially the ensemble’s accompanist Little Lucy ...

Robert E. Person Love Divine REP Music (2015) www.roberteperson.com By Bob Marovich The first thing you notice when listening to Robert E. Person’s new album, Love Divine, is the bigness of the singer’s voice. It’s Broadway musical big, regardless of whether Person is summoning deep bass notes or launching into falsetto. His repertory reflects his vocal blend, a veritable consommé of jazz, pop, gospel, and classical influences. On Love Divine, his fourth album, Person celebrates the sacredness of love, mankind’s most essential but most misunderstood emotion. The album’s dozen selections come from the pens of talented songwriters—from Allyn Johnson’s ethereal ...