CD Review: Hymns To Hang On To — Bishop James Dixon II & the Community of Faith Mass Choir

Hymns To Hang On To
Bishop James Dixon II & the Community of Faith Mass Choir
Blackberry Records BBD-1648
2005

“Whatever happened to the hymns?” ruminates Bishop James W.E. Dixon II in the first seconds of this new project from Blackberry Records. The hymn book is to the musician, he remarks, as the Bible is to the preacher. Dixon then declares that this recording session will provide “a fresh presentation of the classic hymns….old songs in new clothes.”

Thematically, Hymns To Hang On To delivers on its promise: the soloists, choir and band present old-line hymns with a contemporary arrangement. Track by track, however, the project has its hits and misses.

The hits: Rosalyn Brunswick McDuffy and the Houston-based Community of Faith Mass Choir provide a glass-shattering interpretation of “It is Well with my Soul.” Their performance is explosive and aggressive, with McDuffy’s growling vocals becoming almost otherworldly by the conclusion. You cannot believe it is the same cherubic voice that introduced the song only minutes before. Pastor Greg Oliver’s take on “Amazing Grace,” gospel’s most embellished hymn, is virile, sanctified, and inspiring. The Williams Brothers’ Doug and Melvin Williams inject a joyous quartet beat into “Leaning on the Everlasting Arm,” which, combined with exuberant down-home call-and-response singing between the Williams and the choir, provides the finest moments on the CD.

What doesn’t work for me are the three tracks –- approximately fifteen minutes in total — of Bishop Dixon narrating over a saxophone solo of “I am Thine, O Lord” and “Blessed Assurance.” These performances come across as too ponderous, smooth-jazzy, and tiresome to have been given such a large percentage of total running time. And “I Need Thee Every Hour” veers toward the industry’s omnipresent ‘gospel lite’ sound, though soloist Carlondria Dixon does her best to infuse some spice into the track.

Overall, Hymns To Hang On To features a mix of great performances and some less-than-inspiring ones, though the quality of the musicians is consistent and the choir has plenty of power, energy and discipline to merit its very own project.