Le’Andria Johnson
The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson
Music World Gospel (2012)
http://www.musicworldgospel.com/
By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.
“Who knew that I’d be here?/You couldn’t have told me that this time last year.“
So sings Le’Andria Johnson on “Overtaken,” one of the seven songs on her new CD, The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson. Truer lyrics could have not been sung. The song is a rhythmic testimonial and offering of gratitude from an artist who has gone from “flip flops and a dream” (she writes in the liner notes) to a Grammy Award.
Given her life story, Le’Andria Johnson has much to share with others, and Evolution is something of a series of mini-life lessons with an urban contemporary soundtrack. The musical backdrop changes slightly from selection to selection, but what does not change is Le’Andria’s vocal urgency. Singed at the edges, her voice is full of amazing and gut-wrenching melismatic twists, turns and curlicues. Somewhere there is a fifty-five gallon drum of high-octane power that she draws upon when needed.
The current single from the CD is “Let It Go,” a collaboration with Raphael Saadiq that blends neo-soul – led by Saddiq’s playful piano motif – and a lyric lecture on eliminating the baggage of the past. (“I know you’re tired of being the poster girl for the woman scorned.”)
The song on the album that comes closest to her church-wrecking hit “Jesus” (from The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson) is “Sooner or Later.” It’s a slow-burning audience rouser that Le’Andria delivers with an evangelist’s wrath, seemingly pulling sound out of every organ in her slim frame.
Another powerful track is “I Shall Leap,” a prayerful ballad with soothing lyrics delivered with seething vocal authority. Gospel slow jams such as “Sooner or Later” and “I Shall Leap” are Le’Andria’s sweet spot. She should record more songs like these.
I reiterate what I have written before: with the proper A&R and management, Le’Andria Johnson has the potential to become gospel music’s next superstar. For whatever she must still learn about the business and craft of gospel singing, she embodies the quintessential soul, the sine qua non of gospel. That can only be gifted, not learned.
Four of Five Stars
Picks: “Sooner or Later,” “I Shall Leap.”
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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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I have all of her cd projects. Now I’m waiting on the next one. Wish she will do a live cd with her brother’s arranging and Doobie Powell along with diets w/ the likes of Kim Burrell, Kierra Sheard, Shawn McClemore and or possibly Karen Clark Sheard.
Doobie Powell put a spin on her, “Leap into my Destiny”. That one was fresher on Sunday’s Best.
Why wasn’t she on the WOW2012 gospel compilation?
She probably contributed much to Los Angeles yet. WOW picks certain cities to loosely show a theme of artists and their relevance to that location. I’m sure if they have a WOW compilation with Miami as the venue, Leandria may have one or two tracks on there because Florida is her home state.
She is really moving LIVE. Live CD please!
Thats what’s up. How did she get a Grammy quicker than the ones who judged her on Sunday Best?
They paved the way for her to get Grammy nods. Let alone, win one
Think BET and Centric should stop cycling Sunday Best so the 4 winners (*Woken, Crawley, Johnson, Bullock) can gain notoriety. (I meant Aiken)
Le’ is gaining an identity outside of Sunday Best no matter how many cycles SB does, there will only be 1 Leandria. PS: Did you hear? Andrea Helms was signed to musicWorld.
The Evolution of Leandria Johnson is the TRUTH!!!!!!!!!! Unlike most gospel artists, i actually want to purchase her work rather than utube her hits. She is highly annoited and to me can out sing any gospel artist or background singer out right now. THE REAL DEAL!!!!!!!!!
The way u tlkn u gotta be from stl
Not really understandn why Music World would sign Andra Helms unless they want to diversify their listening audience. Can’t stand it when recording lables make Luke-warm moves like this. Struck gold w/ Leandria. Why tarnished it.