Norman Hutchins
Hosanna
IR Music Group (2013)
By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog
The choir deserves equal billing on Norman Hutchins’ new album, Hosanna. Whether singing full-throttle or with nuance, in response to Hutchins’ calls or on its own, the choir doesn’t as much support as serve as an alternate voice.
Singer-songwriter Hutchins made his mark during the 2000s on JDI Records. Songs such as “God’s Got A Blessing (With My Name On It)” and “Get Ready For Your Miracle” contained lyrics that drew from, and contributed to, the catalog of church catchphrases. Hosanna’s contribution to the collection is the funky old-school “Already Done Enough,” as in “If He doesn’t do anything else for me, He’s already done enough.”
Otherwise, the album’s lyric content leans toward praise and worship for its subject matte. Musically, however, Hutchins and the choir traverse much of the spectrum of modern African American sacred music: from P&W to contemporary gospel to traditional, and a dash of urban AC with the praise warrior anthem, “We’re Declaring War.”
Although the opening mid-tempo praisers are conventional P&W, the album comes into its own with “We Will Wait.” The lovely, contemplative composition about communicating with God is draped in the lush, symphonic sound popularized by Richard Smallwood, Thomas Whitfield, and Donald Lawrence. The mood of “I Love You Jesus” is similarly meditative.
Grammy Award-winning Regina Belle reacquaints us with her traditional gospel side, demonstrated in 2008 on “God Is Good,” by leading “If You Don’t Praise Him.” The song repurposes the phrase “If you don’t go, don’t hinder me” into “If you don’t praise Him, don’t hinder me.” “Season of Miracles” is the album’s Holy Ghost moment, a drive tempo piece that carries the audience into joyous praise break.
The live performance, recorded at Gospel Memorial Church of God in Christ in Long Beach, California, receives able production from top-shelf producer Michael Bereal. Hosanna finds Pastor Norman Hutchins doing what he does best: leading a live gospel music service.
Four of Five Stars
Picks: “We Will Wait,” “Season of Miracles.”
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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