Bob

Michael MartinlifeStories vol. 1Remaining Days Music (2011)www.remainingdaysmusic.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog. “This is the soundtrack for your life” is a tagline for Pastor Michael Steven Martin’s music. It’s certainly an apt tagline for his lifeStories vol. 1, an EP of vignettes reflecting on the drama of daily [...]

DrewI SurrenderDrew Music Publishing (2010)http://www.facebook.com/DrewBaxter.NIPBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.On I Surrender, singer-songwriter Drew Baxter of Orlando, Florida is supported by a quintessentially East Coast-sounding praise and worship ensemble called New Inspiration of Praise.There’s nothing subtle about Drew and New Inspiration of Praise, from their energetic singing to [...]

Vincent Tharpe and KenosisLive in MemphisOne Voice Media www.facebook.com/pages/Vincent-Tharpe-and-Kenosis/137387076492By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.Memphis-based Vincent Tharpe and Kenosis was formed from a high school gospel choir and brings that same youthful spunk to its current iteration as a P&W choir-ensemble. On Live in Memphis, the group’s ministry runs [...]

Here are TBGB's lists of gospel's best for 2011: CDs, Song Recordings, and Historic Reissue. The lists are not necessarily based on chart ranking, sales or radio/Internet play but simply what TBGB felt were the best quality recorded performances of the hundreds of projects it reviewed during 2011.Best CD of [...]

Admittedly the new year is only three days old, but this is still the greatest idea I've heard all year: an opera about the historic August 1963 March on Washington, starring African American opera singers.Check out http://www.civilrightsopera.com/ for more information.

“Hannah’s Song”Bettie Murphy DraperFrom the Faith Walker Records CD Making Me Over (2011)http://www.taxi.com/faithwalkerVicksburg, Mississippi’s Bettie Murphy Draper delivers “Hannah’s Song” as a traditional gospel blues.  While the lyrics are gospel, the musical emphasis is definitely electric blues, complete with three line verses, stinging guitar licks and strutting bass and drums.  [...]

“Everything”Kezia AlfordFrom the CD Proverbs 31 (2011)http://www.keziaalford.com/To a light jazz piano combo, Greenville, Mississippi native Kezia Alford pulls on her life experience to assure us, in a smoky delivery, that “everything’s going to be all right.” Born premature, baby Kezia was near death, but the Lord had other plans for her. Now [...]

Rev. Stef and JubilationJust Like Sunday Mornin’!http://www.jubilationinc.com/By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.Rev. Stefanie Minatee and Jubilation have been around for a while but they earned national recognition in 2010 backing Queen Latifah on the title track of EMI Gospel’s Grammy-winning Oh Happy Day: All Star Music Celebration.The ensemble [...]