Bob

“The Christmas Song”Outreach 24/7http://www.outreach247.com/The DC-based contemporary ensemble puts their own inimitable stamp on – and adds religious lyrics to – Mel Torme’s classic “The Christmas Song,” twice made popular by songster Nat King Cole. In the midst of the group's trademark laid-back harmonizing and funky percussion, Eric Blake contributes a jazzy [...]

“Merry Christmas to You”J Prophethttp://www.jprophet.com/If you like hip hop holiday fare, J Prophet’s “Merry Christmas to You” is for you. In between strains of Christmas carols, the Ghostwriter instructs everyone to reflect, “right before you go back to the food and get seconds,” that we  are privileged to enjoy this [...]

James “Kelly Fox!” Davis and A Bunch of FriendsThe Best GiftBe Natural Entertainment 2010http://www.kellyfoxonline.com/Reviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.At the conclusion of the two-part, nine-minute-plus “What is Christmas,” James “Kelly Fox!” Davis turns to the audience.  “That’s just the first song, I told you we’re gonna have [...]

Roebuck "Pops" Staples, patriarch of the Staple Singers whose down-home singing style and reverb guitar became the family group's trademark, was honored last week with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail.The marker was placed on Summit Street near the courthouse in Staples' hometown of Winona, Mississippi.  Authorities noted that it made sense to [...]

Kristin SmithExpectingHeavenSent Records (2010)www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/116576653-expectingIf you don’t know Kristin Smith – although most in gospel music’s inner circle do – you will know her by her musical roots. Her aunt was Ruth Jones, an Alabama migrant who directed a church choir, accompanied an early iteration of the Sallie Martin Singers, but was [...]

Jasmine BurchDeclarationM.Y.R.O.H. Music Group (2010)http://www.jasmineburch.com/Reviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.To say Jasmine Burch has grown up with gospel music would be an understatement. She was exposed to it, quite literally, before she was born. While some mothers play Mozart to their gestating babies, Jasmine’s mother picked the [...]

Charlie Bereal of the Soul Seekers had been reported missing in New York City since yesterday morning (December 14).  I received a message this evening that he was found -- thank God! -- and reports say he is at Harlem Hospital. 

James Fortune & FIYAI Believe: LiveBlack Smoke Music Worldwide (2010)www.myspace.com/blacksmokemusicworldwideReviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.James Fortune exclaims “Make some noise” often on his new project, I Believe: Live. He certatinly doesn’t have to ask that of his vocalists. Possessing the energy of ten Pentecostal choirs, FIYA may [...]

“Christmas Drum-Apella”Prez BlackmonListen here: www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_4479300“Christmas Drum-Apella” is a brief Christmas greeting, less than two minutes in length, but it packs plenty of listening fun with its Take 6-meets-melismatic-gospel-soloist vibe. Prez Blackmon (of the popular gospel duo Renee Spearman and Prez) cooked up this electric combination of overdubbed a cappella voices [...]

J ProphetGetting My Shape Up Vol. 1(private release, 2010)http://www.jprophet.com/Reviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.J Prophet shatters all stereotypes of the typical hip hop artist, secular or sacred. He doesn’t rap about growing up on mean streets or even about being saved from a life of sin, shambles [...]