ClaraOpen Door Repertory CompanyOak Park, Illinoiswww.opendoorrep.orgBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog"I had to die in order to live."So says the spirit of Clara Ward in the opening scene of Clara, a musical on the life of the gospel star, written and directed by Jeff Award-nominated McKinley Johnson (Train [...]
“I Am Yours”GC3From the CD Breakthrough (released April 27, 2013)www.gcmuziq.comGC3’s “I Am Yours” is a simple P&W mantra of discipleship, hypnotic in atmosphere, led with passion (and evangelistic fervor in parts) while the music alternates between gentle and stirring. The harmonies are silky and mellow.Based out of Tampa, Florida, GC3 [...]
Los Angeles, CA - Under the vision and direction of Walt Whitman Jr. and E-Tre Productions (Eugene Bush), Soul Stories is a series of short films inspired by some of the life-changing circumstances that the Grammy Award-winning Walt Whitman & The Soul Children of Chicago have witnessed and experienced over [...]
Tim DillingerThe Baton: 1985Suxxess Records (2013)www.timdillinger.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogTim Dillinger blends his affection for, and knowledge of, traditional gospel with a commitment to gritty urban inspirational music on The Baton: 1985. The result is a mélange of hip hop swagger, rock, electronica, audio samples, and praise [...]
One 4 ChristIn True Worship (2013)One 4 Christ and DA’Vine Destiny Entertainmentwww.one4christ.netBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogOne 4 Christ is a full-throated Chicago-based choir of nearly fifty voices. Founded by Sharon R. Bouie and under the musical direction of Derral J. AndersonJr., the ensemble toggles between worship team [...]
“Captured By You”Revival TrainFrom the Tate Music Group CD Living for a Causewww.revivaltrain.tmgartist.comTBGB goes international once again this week. The Pick of the Week comes from a family group called Revival Train from Lagos, Nigeria.The group consists of the family matriarch, Veronica Alkali, and her children: Sunny, Ralph, Susan, and Michael. Singing [...]
Henrietta TelfairI’m YoursT Records (2013)www.HenriettaTelfair.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogInside the unassuming jewel case of Henrietta Telfair’s I’m Yours is the work of a talented vocalist who can soothe like the Balm of Gilead in one moment and roust folk from their reverie in the next.Jacksonville, Florida’s Telfair [...]
Lisa Page BrooksReadyHabakkuk Music (2013)www.habakkukmusic.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogBelieve the promotion and cyber chatter: Ready is one of gospel songstress Lisa Page Brooks’s best albums to date. The project’s dozen radio-size songs overflow with optimism, whether bouncy and bright or serious and hymnic.An alumna of the female [...]
“Breaking Free”Vannessa ForbesBNL Music Group (2013)https://soundcloud.com/vforbesmusic“Breaking Free” is a breezy R&B-infused testament to the power of change.Vannessa Forbes, a 20-year-old gospel singer from Jamaica (not all music from Jamaica is reggae!), tells the listener in a breathy, attractive voice how she gazed in the mirror and did not like what [...]
“1 On 1”Zacardi CortezFrom the forthcoming CD Kerry Douglas Presents Gospel Mix Vol. VI(available August 20, 2013)www.zacardicortez.comThose who know Zacardi Cortez only from his intense vocalizing on James Fortune & FIYA’s “The Blood” will be surprised to hear his rich, balladeer side. Like “Every Promise,” Cortez’s duet with Lalah Hathaway, [...]
