Tallie Rogers – Try Jesus

Tallie Rogers
Try Jesus
Overboard Records (2011)

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.

Tallie Rogers, sister of quartet singer Pastor Tim Rogers (of Tim Rogers and the Fellas), was recently introduced to a wider gospel audience on the power of her indie single, “Try Jesus.”

Try Jesus is the album from whence the single came and, like the namesake single, it packs a great deal of punch into a short period of time.

Try Jesus showcases Rogers’ raw-edged, no-holds-barred gospel singing and shouting. Her songs contain the simple messages, the balm for life’s scuffs and scrapes, that separate gospel from anthems and high-minded hymns. And as if Rogers needed any additional trad cred, the drummer on her album is Cleophus Robinson III.

Rogers and a few guest soloists hungrily tear the lids off most of the songs on the CD. “I’m Healed” is an emotion-drenched ballad that builds to such intensity that it nearly dissolves into a praise break at the end. A selection known simply as “Old School” is a medley of traditional gospel songs, namely “He’s Sweet I Know” and “Oh How I Love Jesus.” Appropriately, Rogers goes flatfoot on the medley, worrying the notes with plenty of melismatic drama to the accompaniment of music director Jesse Prather’s gospel blues piano.
“I Gotta Praise” is an uptempo church-wrecker in the same mode as “Try Jesus.”

A soft spot on the CD is “Thank You for Your Love.” It features a trio of leads, Rogers included, but despite all the vocal power, the selection lacks the propulsive thrust of the album’s other selections. Also, Try Jesus would have been even stronger had it offered more than eight selections (one is an instrumental track).

Nevertheless, Try Jesus reminds us that churchy gospel singers are still out there, raising rafters. I hope Tallie Rogers does a live album. With her energy and voice behind it, the album would be a tent revival in a jewel case.

Four of Five Stars

Picks: “Try Jesus,” “I Gotta Praise.”