The Singing Bishops (tbgb review)

Various Artists
The Singing Bishops
Light Records 2008
www.lightrecords.com

No, you are not going to hear Bishop Paul Morton standing next to Bishop Albert Jamison as together they sing Italian arias and try to top one another’s high Cs on “Nessun Dorma.” In fact, the Bishops are not even singing together. The Singing Bishops is a clever repackaging effort from the good folks at Light Records and Tehillah Music Group. It features recent “best ofs” by Bishops signed or licensed to the label.

You’ll hear preaching, singing, choirs, powerhouse female soloists, the latter stealing the show on many an occasion, although the congregational “When I Think of the Goodness of Jesus” from the late Bishop G.E. Patterson’s Singing the Old Time Way is hard for any artist to follow. But Bishop Paul Morton comes as close as possible with his emotional “Walk On By Faith,” as does the legendary Bishop Walter Hawkins on an equally stirring “I Love You Lord.” Hawkins’ performance reminds me that he keeps getting better, and more traditional-sounding, with every passing year.

The hard-quartet sound of Bishop Kenneth Robinson’s “Gospel Medley” features songs such as “Jesus is on the Mainline” and “This Little Light of Mine” that reside in the repertory – indeed, the collective unconscious – of church deacons everywhere. Bishop Jamison’s “My Witness” is another traditional track tucked in among the jazz-classical ambience of worship music provided by the likes of Bishop Larry Brandon and Bishop Joseph W. Walker. A special treat is Bishop Simon Gordon’s lively “Oh Magnify the Lord with Me,” his Triedstone Full Gospel Baptist Church Choir singing with eager and thunderous antiphony.

The Singing Bishops needs more annotation in the liner notes regarding the albums from whence the songs come, and the years in which each was recorded, for those who might listen to the CD to hear a favorite Bishop and come away wanting to add the music of another to their collection. A quick paragraph on each Bishop would be an added bonus. But beyond that, the CD is a pleasant compilation of recent hits by the African American church’s highest ordained and one that reflects the sound of today’s gospel music mainstream.

Three of Four Stars