“Did It All For Me”Aaron SledgeFrom the CD Da LightSky High Entertainment 2007www.myspace.com/skyhighdalightAs I mentioned in my review of Chicagoan Aaron Sledge’s full project Da Light, “Did It All For Me” is a fine piece of pop-gospel songwriting. It’s so good, you’ll swear you’ve heard it before...a sure sign of [...]
Kersten StevensThe Giftwww.kerstenstevens.comAll I had to hear was that gospel/hip hop/jazz violinist Kersten Stevens was putting out a Christmas album, and I knew it would be superb. Sometimes you just know these things.And of course I was right.On The Gift, the versatile Kersten brandishes her bow like a magic wand, [...]
"Arise Medley"AriseFrom the CD God's Got My BackStile Records 2008While "God's Got My Back" is very likely the plug song on Arise's CD of the same name, to my ears "Arise Medley" is the real treat. Electrifying Afro-Caribbean handclap rhythms and a Latin acoustic guitar propel the group's sweet harmonies [...]
Aaron SledgeDa LightSky High Entertainment 2007http://www.myspace.com/skyhighdalightAt first blush, Chicago’s Aaron Sledge seems a contradiction: an urban inspirational artist whose album is covered in photos of the singer in street-smart clothes, posing tough next to a Lexus, showing off a top-shelf shoe collection, and hanging out on Chicago streets. But listen [...]
Odetta (Holmes) Gordon, known to the world as simply "Odetta," died of a heart attack in New York yesterday, December 2. She was 77 years old.Odetta sang folk songs, ballads, blues, Civil Rights anthems, spirituals, showtunes, gospel...really just about any style of music was fodder for her straightforward delivery. Her [...]
Just in time for the holiday season, the Johnson Family is back! Christmas is upon us and as the family comes together many spirits will be lifted and lives renewed. Family conflicts erupt again and major drama ensues.Produced by hot urban filmmaker/actor/director/writer Jean Claude LaMarre (Color of The Cross, Basquiat, [...]
Tune to 88.7 WLUW Chicago this Sunday morning, December 7, from 3:00 to 7:30 a.m. Central Time for the monthly live broadcast of “Gospel Memories” – the soundtrack to That Old Time Religion.Not in Chicago? No problem. Go to http://www.wluw.org/, click the Listen Live button, and enjoy “Gospel Memories” from [...]
“Cry Your Last Tear”Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Mass ChoirFrom Bishop Paul S. Morton Presents the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Mass Choir Tehillah Music Group/Light Records CD 2008www.lightrecords.comIn the capable hands of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Mass Choir, VaShawn Mitchell’s superb composition, “Cry Your Last Tear,” is [...]
TBGB has had a number of inquiries recently regarding the health status of Tommy Ellison.We asked Sam Williams, Tommy's manager, to let us know how things are going. Sam sent us this update:Good Evening,We really appreciate the love and concern from all of Tommy's friends, we don't consider them fans [...]
Ride With JesusThe Holy SonsQuartet Boyz Records 2008http://www.myspace.com/theexcitingholysons Hailing from Chicago’s west side, where the group was formed twenty years ago as the New Garden Messengers, the award-winning Exciting Holy Sons have slowly but surely made their mark on the national quartet scene. The group may not be as well-known [...]
