Ricky Dillard and New G – Keep Living

Ricky Dillard and New G

http://www.eonemusic.com/

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.

Bursting on the scene in 1990 with the explosive and vocally aerobic “More Abundantly,” a song every choir subsequently learned to sing, Ricky Dillard and New G continue to inject contemporary lit with old-fashioned church spirit on their eighth and latest CD, Keep Living.

At first, Keep Living tends toward a robust but ultimately middle-of-the-road approach, with songs such as “Speak a Word” enfolding a praise and worship mood into a gospel sensibility. By “He’s Been Just That Good,” however, the album’s disposition changes shades from contemporary to traditional, as Nikki Ross’s spirited solo sends the live recording audience at Detroit’s Second Ebenezer Church, and probably more than a few CD listeners, into praise hypnosis. The album stays traditional throughout the next four songs.

Song highlights include “My Soul Says Yes,” a Chicago Mass Choir-style sanctified church wrecker led by the fiery, evangelistic vocals of Lillian Lloyd. “Strange” is an interesting jazzy take on the Walter Hawkins composition, with Nikki Ross and LaVarnga Hubbard playing off one another’s sweet and saucy vocals, respectively. “He Turned It” is another high energy piece, and it moves along with a Middle Eastern riff. Karen Clark Sheard duets with Michael Stuckey on “The Sweetest Name.”

Regardless of the song style, Keep Living finds New G producing those big, round full-voice chords for which it is well known. The group has a polish ensembles develop only after years of singing together.

Ricky Dillard and New G’s demonstrative performance concluded the 27th Annual Stellar Awards program last Saturday evening. At one point, Stellar hosts Dorinda Clark Cole and Marvin Sapp were taking turns soloing with the choir.  Now THERE’s a recording opportunity waiting to happen.