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MinistryMark A. SmithDanbla Records 2005www.danblarecords.comMark A. Smith is a pleasant gospel balladeer with better than average talent who infuses his quiet-storm gospel production with hip hop, rap, and jazz stylings to great effect. In fact, the tracks on which Smith experiments with styles not often associated with gospel music are [...]

I lament that most of today's gospel music does not take a stand on political and social issues in the way that gospel artists from the '40s to the '70s had done. While this isn't quite the rage-against-the-machine that I am suggesting, "Work It Out - The Katrina Remix" is [...]

Happy in the Service of the Lord: 1949 - 1954The Spirit of Memphis QuartetAcrobat ADDCD 3007www.acrobatmusic.net2005If you know anything about the Spirit of Memphis, all I have to say is that Happy in the Service of the Lord includes their seminal King recordings, and you will know immediately that it [...]

“Not Forgotten”Israel & New BreedFrom the forthcoming CD Alive in South Africa (available in stores October 25) Integrity Gospel After performing at an artists’ showcase during last year’s Gospel Music Workshop of America in Kansas City, Israel & New Breed hopped a plane to South Africa for a series of [...]

From The Belle Report (9/16/05):Baltimore, MD – In just a few days The National Endowment of The Arts Fellowship Award will be awarded to the Albertina Walker, also known as the “Queen of Gospel.” This honor is the highest honor given by the United States government to any artist. This [...]

The RemixDr. Charles G. Hayes and the Warriors ICEE Inspirational CD ICEE-72962005No choir comes close to the Warriors of Chicago’s Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer for excellence in traditional gospel performance. For more than forty years, the Warriors – under the direction of Dr. Charles G. Hayes and originally known as [...]

I Can't Thank Him EnoughBishop Larry B. Aiken & The Vision of Praise Celebration ChoirNew Vision Records (2005)1-866-363-7939, extension 102While not all private press gospel recordings warrant attention, this one does. This privately-pressed CD by New Vision Ministries of the Memorial Missionary Baptist Church of Kansas City is reminiscent of [...]

"Prayer Hater" Shontae from the Danbla CD I'm DeterminedDanbla RecordsNorth Carolina's Shontae Henry Hill is a young singer with an aggressive but melodic voice. Her debut CD, I'm Determined, includes an energetic track called "Prayer Hater" with lyrics that are a breath of fresh air in an industry suffocating from [...]

From Malaco Music Group:Dorothy Norwood Wins Soul Train Lady Of Soul AwardThe Malaco Music Group would like to congratulate Ms. Dorothy Norwood forher 10th Annual Soul Train Lady Of Soul Award win in the category of BESTGOSPEL ALBUM for “Stand On The Word.”Thanks to all of the Gospel, Urban, and [...]

The sophomore debut by jazz violinist Kersten Stevens, currently completing her higher education studies at Yale University with a dual degree in music and African-American studies, is called Walks of Faith. On this new project, Kersten uses the voice of contemporary jazz -- and specifically her supple violin technique -- [...]