Karen Washington & New Singing Stars: Jesus is My Everything

Karen Washington and the New Singing Stars

Dream Reality Records (2004)

Karen Washington’s CDs never fail to transport me to times when I have driven through the Mid-South and listened to gospel quartet music on local AM radio stations.  Only I’m usually in a rental car where the radio bass has been irrevocably turned up so high it blurs the edges of the songs.  Gratefully, with CDs like Jesus is My Everything, I can control the tone and improve my listening experience.

Recorded eight years ago, Jesus is My Everything sounds just as current as the Bainbridge, Georgiaquartet’s more recent releases.  It falls squarely within the New Singing Stars quartet’s signature old-school harmonies, synth-led musicianship, bouncy rhythm, uncomplicated songs, and traditional-style melodies.

Washington is out front, singing in a soprano that is part gospel, part Memphis girl group.  The introspective “Jesus You Are My Best Friend,” which is thematically similar to the title track, is the kind of ballad of heartfelt gratitude that Washingtonis ideally suited to render.  She relinquishes the microphone to Reginald Ray for an authentically soulful version of “The Lord Will Make a Way.”

The group makes “Abundantly Blessed” nearly irresistible by notching its trademark bounce up +1 and wrapping this simple praise song in Carolina beach music rhythm.  Almost as buoyant, and equally bright and optimistic, is “We’re Going to Make It.”  Longtime Karen Washington and New Singing Stars producer Eric L. Sharper wrote all of the songs for the album.

Jesus is My Everything is the kind of quartet music you hear at a Pleasant Saturday Service: no-nonsense, just one song after another.

Review by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.

Picks: “Jesus You Are My Best Friend,” “Abundantly Blessed.”