Jason Nelson – Shifting the Atmosphere

Jason Nelson

Verity Gospel Music Group (2012)

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.

Recorded live in Baltimore and released today (May 22), Shifting the Atmosphere is the major label debut of Jason Nelson, Pastor of Greater Bethlehem Temple and brother of the equally-talented Jonathan Nelson.

At the outset of the live program, Jason Nelson is introduced as “one of this generation’s greatest male voices.”  It’s not just hyperbole: he possesses a very handsome, elastic, extroverted voice with enough pulpit-hewn roughness to add authority.  Comparisons to Marvin Sapp—for whom Nelson wrote “Thirsty” and “Place of Worship”—are likely to be forthcoming.

“We worked hard to put together a CD with no fillers,” Nelson said, and he’s spot-on.  There’s nothing generic about the praise and worship pieces, and no retreading on any of the selections.  

Ballads are Nelson’s sweet spot and Shifting the Atmosphere is packed with them.  The title track and current single is a meditative praise and worship song. “No Words” is lithe and features a pleasant duet between Nelson and Leon Timbo.  “Don’t Count Me Out” is a compelling assertion that “God sees me finished.”  The antiphonal “Nothing Without You” is a hypnotic prayer that moves at the pace of a slightly raised heartbeat.  It morphs into a medley of introspective hymn singing by Nelson and members of his team.

A nice change of pace is “Power in His Name,” a traditional-flavored selection that even Nelson acknowledges “shifted the atmosphere” of the recording session.  Indeed, it is followed by a nearly four-minute praise break, which is refreshing because praise breaks are often abbreviated on albums.

Shifting the Atmosphere is well-produced and well-constructed, the aural equivalent of a peaceful day of prayer, reflection, and affirmations with a praise break at intermission.

Picks: “Power in His Name,” “Nothing Without You.”