Apostle J.L. Cash & Praise – I Need to Hear from You

Apostle J.L. Cash & Praise

MCG Records (2007)

Apostle J.L. Cash evokes the soulful delivery of Teddy Pendergrass, James Brown, and a host of hard-singing quartet leads on his 2007 CD, I Need to Hear from You.

The Pendergrass comparison occurs, naturally, during the ensemble’s gospelization of the late soul singer’s “Love TKO.”  Retitled “Let It Go,” the hook is reworded as “Got to let it go/Let the Lord God take control.”  “Leap of Faith” finds Cash channeling James Brown by punctuating this funky, high-spirited song of encouragement with the Godfather’s explosive interjections.  The rhythm section is straight outta JB and their sound leaps off the disc.

Other hard-hitting tracks on the CD include the opener, “It’s What We Do,” and the intense, soul-drenched arrangement of “Standing in the Need of Prayer,” which resembles the spiritual in lyric only.  Here, Cash is a soul preacher, leading Praise in a recasting of the spiritual as an ode to faith and persistence, as in “I’m still standing.”

There is an overall ‘70s soul feel to the CD, though the songs are rooted thematically in the quartet lexicon.  Songs alternately encourage (“Everything Gonna Be Alright”) and seek encouragement (the synth-led and driving title track).

Apostle Cash and Praise are veterans of Orlando, Florida’s House of Blues Gospel Brunch, where audiences expect the traditional, roof-raising sound.  On the other hand, the group manages to blend traditional with contemporary so that their sound is as fresh as it is grounded.  Perfect product for James Bullard and MCG Records, among the few labels remaining that maintains a palpable connection with the style of gospel’s forefathers and church mothers.

Picks: “Leap of Faith,” “Thanks for Making Me Wait.”

Review by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.