JGM Pick of the Week: October 21, 2019

“All In His Plan”
PJ Morton feat. Le’Andria Johnson and Mary Mary
Morton Inspiration/Tyscot (release date: September 20, 2019)
www.tyscot.com

By Bob Marovich

“All In His Plan” addresses the issue we all grapple with: why do bad or hurtful things happen to us when God has the power to wipe it all away?

The song’s conclusion: it’s “all in His plan.” There is a reason for everything—we just can’t see it yet. As maddening as it feels sometimes, we have to put our trust in God “because He already worked it out, in the end.”

PJ Morton gives the ballad a theatrical expansiveness appropriate for a big question and for a trio of three powerful female vocalists. It’s hard to go wrong when those singers are Erica and Tina Campbell and Le’Andria Johnson. Johnson opens by singing the lyrics in such world-weary blue notes that it’s like to rip your heart out because it sounds autobiographical. As far as I know, this is the first time the ladies have worked together on a single. I hope it’s not the last.

“All In His Plan” is from a special event album Martin is working on called The Gospel According to PJ (Morton Inspiration/Tyscot), forthcoming next year.