Jeneal Johnson – New Home

Jeneal Johnson
New Home
EJMJ Music Group
http://www.jenealfjohnson.ws/

It’s no surprise Jeneal Johnson is a traditional gospel singer. She hails from deep within the quartet community, having ministered in her family’s group, the Farmer Spirituals of Summerville, Georgia; the female AMF Quintet; and later, the Israelite Travelers.

Johnson’s new album, New Home, demonstrates her fealty to the old time sound. Even her own compositions are derived from traditional themes and melodies, whether expressing praise or supplication. The album’s single, “Somebody Touched Me,” is especially emblematic of her gospel-bluesy style. She also features a couple of gospel standards, including “I Know It Was the Blood,” which she takes at a slow tempo instead of the more popular spirited congregational sing-along speed.

Not all songs on New Home are traditional-based. Johnson jazzes the melody and gospelizes the lyrics to the classic Joe Cocker love song “You Are So Beautiful” and gives a similar treatment to the Supremes’ “Someday We’ll Be Together,” as “One Day.”

What one finds, however, is that Johnson’s strongest performances are on her own compositions, such as “Tell God,” which is a head-shaking litany of contemporary problems and the solution: give it all to God and keep on moving. “Praise You” is a simple worship song suitable for praise teams.

The album’s heavy reliance on electric piano gives the background a synthetic feel where a regular piano and organ would have been more effective. Nevertheless, Jeneal Johnson is a churchy singer in a day and age when churchy singers are in short supply.

Recorded at the legendary NRC Studios, formerly of Atlanta and now located in Rome, Georgia.

Three of Five Stars

Picks: “Somebody Touched Me.”