Alpha 7 Ministries
Beyond the Walls
Alpha 7 Ministries 2008
www.alpha7ministries.com
Ministers Randall and DeBorrah K. Ogans’ Alpha 7 Ministries imprint out of Fairfield, California introduced the world to Brenda Lowe and her marvelous rendition of “Somebody Somewhere,” covered in 2008 by V.O.W. Artists Debra Henderson (“Clap Your Hands”) and the Sons of the Soul Revivers quartet are also part of the Alpha 7 Ministries roster.
Beyond the Walls is an acknowledged departure for the label. It is a Christian/Gospel smooth jazz instrumental release designed, explains Min. Randall, to “reach beyond the physical, emotional and spiritual walls.” Derrick Hall is the chief minstrel, playing keyboards, drums and lead guitar in collaboration with a combo of Bay Area musicians that includes Juan Escavedo who, like his sister, Sheila E, is a talented percussionist.
The CD is brief – seven tracks and about 29 minutes long. The musicians play crisply and deftly; if they aren’t already session musicians, they should be. The music is relaxing, although “War,” with its slamming bass line courtesy of Eric Gillette, is more caffeinated than the other six tracks. Song titles such as “Jesus Is Coming Soon” and “Balm in Gilead” telegraph that this is an inspirational project.
On the other hand, I never would have known from simply listening to Beyond the Walls that this was an inspirational or Christian/Gospel jazz CD. The melodies are not based on any recognizable hymn or gospel tune, there are no vocals/lyrics, nor any patently obvious gospel instrumentation such as a warbling Hammond B3. It is music you might hear while at the bank or the grocery store, while watching the Weather Channel, hearing between news stories on NPR, or really anywhere.
So here’s a question for debate, particularly as gospel jazz instrumentalists such as Ben Tankard and Jeff Majors continue to gain in popularity. Absent sacred lyrics, familiar church tunes or churchy instrumentation, what makes jazz, such as is demonstrated on Beyond the Walls, distinctly inspirational?
One might agree with Min. Randall that Beyond the Walls “speak[s] in a universal language a message that can change the course of a listener’s day, or life.” Certainly the project has this potential. But does that mean that jazz pieces not marketed explicitly as “inspirational” can also “change the course of a listener’s day, or life?” Can the work of Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Paul Chambers, Ben Webster and others be just as inspirational? The answer to that is clearly yes. Kind of Blue and Beyond the Walls are inspirational, according to this argument. The difference is delineated by marketing departments, not by artistic merit.
Truthfully, all music, particularly instrumental music, which allows one’s imagination to fill in the blanks left open by the dearth of lyrical content, has the potential to inspire. Let me stop here, as this is a rhetorical discussion that could go on forever without resolution. In the end, whether projects like Beyond the Walls inspire, dear listener, is really up to you to decide.
Two of Five Stars
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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.
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I thought this response from Min. Randall Ogans was worth posting here, and he has granted me permission to do so:
Thanks for your review of “Beyond The Walls”. Had hoped for more than 2 stars, but you correctly captured our intention with this project. It’s not hymns, familiar tunes, or the normally recognized “church” music. But it soothes, calms, provokes thought and inner reflection during life’s normal activities, not just on Sunday morning.
I could probably preach you a sermon on the spiritual significance of this project, starting with the artwork,the scripture reference, and the fact that it only has “7” songs. We really wanted to go beyond the norm, as sometimes in our normal circles its as though we take sand and pour it on the beach, which is already full of sand. We make little impact.
Many people don’t realize it but there is a message just in music. It does speak. But we’re not always listening. Sometimes words and personality get in the way of us receiving the intended message. Not with this project. As you correctly stated, the individual will have to come to their own conclusion.
Thanks,
Randall