D’MottRomance in the Gray
Sonny Camp Music Group (Released September, 2013)
By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog
With the build of a wide receiver and an intimidating beard to boot, De’Juaine Motley, aka D’Mott, has a steely-cool tenor voice evocative of the Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald. D’Mott’s album, Romance in the Gray, is an authentic, if modest, project of smooth jazz-fueled praise and worship, all but one of the songs written by the singer himself.
According to the spoken word intro, “Romance in the Gray” is about not putting God in a box, and not making Him black or white, but celebrating the grayness of his existence. It is perhaps in this vein that D’Mott performs his music in a retro style, counter to the current contemporary trend. For example, on the single, “Friend,” D’Mott uses an ‘80s soul groove to celebrate the reasons why there’s no friend like Jesus. He posits a similar sentiment in “Mind Blowin’,” albeit with a different set of adjectives.
Reminiscent of early 1970s Motown protest songs, “God is the Way” casts a serious eye on the streets, where fourteen-year-old girls can be prostitutes, young men wear saggy jeans, and crime and violence rips the heart out of the community. D’Mott implores society to shower love on the community, and reminds that belief in God is the “truth and light” that can brighten all dire circumstances. Parrish Smith, executive director of the project, included “God is the Way” in his feature-length film The Scroll.
D’Mott’s original songs are satisfactory but not groundbreaking, and tend to be repetitious in style. The exception is “Thank You (Ask It),” an up-tempo, quartet-style handclapper from the pen of Albert “Bob” Robinson and the Prodigal Sons of Washington DC.
In addition to singing and serving as a drummer for a number of gospel quartets, groups, and singers, D’Mott pastors the Remnant House Outreach Church in Buffalo, NY, thus continuing his grandparents’ longstanding tradition of church ministry.
Three of Five Stars
Pick: “Thank You (“Ask It”).
Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
Visit Today : 3674
This Month : 47036