Jenise La Vonne – The Call

Jenise La Vonne
The Call
Unusually Anointed Music Group (release date: June 5, 2015)
www.lovejeniselavonne.com

By Bob Marovich

Apostle Lymus Johnson, a fiery preacher winding up to full whoop mode, opens New York singer Jenise La Vonne’s EP The Call.  To an overlain modern beat, Apostle Johnson poses the question that serves as the project’s theme: God is calling you to repent – will you answer Him or not?

On the surface, a heaven-or-hell question may appear far too weighty to hover over the project of an emerging young talent, whose sweetness and runway model comportment would suggest a more blissful view of life. Nevertheless, anyone familiar with the gospel and inspirational music of today’s Christian young adults knows the struggle between “heavenly or worldly gain,” as Jenise calls it on the title track, is as much a challenge as is peer pressure. Indeed, the temptation to follow someone else’s lead instead of believing in one’s self is the subject matter of the album’s acoustic “Do What Jesus Says.”

The 2015 Rhythm of Gospel Awardee Jenise La Vonne sings with more confidence on this project than any of her previous efforts. Her voice is maturing—a combination of training and the inner conviction that comes with experience and drive—and her comfort level with solo artistry is growing. Thus, she can sing with school girl charm on the painfully honest “I Wanna Love You More,” where she admits to not always being the perfect churchgoer, and then belt the worship ballad, “The Wonder of You,” with its soaring chorus.

It is a treat to hear Jenise grow into her gift, and one of the reasons why independent gospel artists deserve our attention: the stronger they get, the stronger gospel music gets.

Three of Five Stars

Picks: “I Wanna Love You More,” “The Wonder of You.”