Power Move Management – A Christmas Experience

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog

In a tradition begun by Phil Spector, Power Move Management CEO Letrece Griffin compiled a Christmas album, A Christmas Experience, featuring eight artists signed to her company. 

It’s a thoughtful and smart compilation, too.  Each of the artists brings his or her distinctive touch to a sampling of religious and popular carols and songs.  Some are the old familiar tunes and some are new, but it is evident that nobody approached the project with a ho-ho-ho-hum attitude.

The most interesting track is Necie B.’s “This Time of Year.”  Maybe I’m out of it, but I have not heard this breezy and fun song before.  With its percussive and catchy chorus, “This Time of Year” belongs in holiday radio rotation.

Other highlights include Keith Jacobs’ “Love in a Box,” with its piano jazz combo soundscape; O.T. Griffin’s “Long Live the King,” a juxtaposition of regal platitudes about the Christ child while a baby gurgles in the background; and Calvin Emery’s “Before Chestnuts,” which riffs on Mel Torme’s “The Christmas Song” but focuses on the very first Christmas.  

Emery also switches the focus on “Bells Will Be Ringing;” instead of heralding the eating and drinking and shopping associated with the holidays, he hears church bells calling people to pray.  Israel Martin and G.U.P. give the morose “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” needed rhythmic energy (they also skip the depressing verses).

Although all of the PMM artists on A Christmas Experience are fine singers and musicians–I wish the cover art included their photos–the most promising young voices are those of Necie B. and Jor’Dan Armstrong, who each contribute two tracks to the compilation.