Angela Alfred-RichardsSo Amazing
Impeccable Music Group (released July 10, 2012)
By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.
Never say never.
When Houston
The ten-track So Amazing is the product of that pursuit.
Worship leader, choir director, and actress, Richards began singing at age eight, emulating her quartet-singing father, Rev. Isaac Alfred, Jr. She was named Top Female Vocalist of the Year by the Texas Gospel Music Awards in 1996.
On So Amazing, Richards’ traditional gospel singing style adds plenty of color to the contemporary grooves. She growls, shouts, and launches stave-leaping rockets of soprano swagger. She sinks her teeth into the pop-inflected title track, an ode of gratitude for everything the Lord has made. The acoustic “Nobody Greater” (not the Darius Paulk song) is similar in balladry and lyrics to “So Amazing,” but we hear a dash of Dionne Warwick in Richards’ delivery. On “Doing Great Things,” she evokes Roberta Flack’s sly coolness while tossing in gospel riffs and runs.
“He Keeps On Blessing Me” is a mid-tempo mover with a Williams Brothers vibe to warm her father’s quartet heart.
Richards saves her most emotional, churchiest gospel singing for the piano-led “Clean Heart” and “Prayer Away,” where she adds a testimony that is sure to get arms waving. These two tracks give the listener a feel for Richards’ versatility, which extends well beyond the musical limits of contemporary gospel arrangements.
So Amazing is given top-notch production by Dove and Stellar award-winning songwriter and producer Billy Dorsey, who is also CEO of Impeccable Music Group.
Four of Five Stars
Picks: “So Amazing,” “Clean Heart.”
Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
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