TBGB Reviews….Debra Henderson

Higher Ground
Debra Henderson
Alpha 7 Ministries 2007
http://www.alpha7ministries.com/

I must admit I’m not a big fan of the Praise & Worship style of sacred music, so when I heard “We’ve Come to Bow Down and Worship,” the first track on Elder Debra Henderson’s CD Higher Ground, with its overly-dramatic synth intro and lovely but understated vocals, I was a bit anxious.

But make no mistake: though Higher Ground is bookended with P&W tracks, the rich, delicious inside is straight-up gospel music in all its bluesy, uptempo glory.

The Hammond organ appears like a familiar friend in the second track, “It’s a Blessing,” on which Elder Henderson renders a low-down gospel blues vocal. “Stand Up” and “Saved” are uptempo charmers, though the title track is the real church wrecker: accompanied once again by Hammond organ, Henderson takes “Higher Ground” slow, wringing every ounce of emotion out of the lyric until there’s not a drop left.

The most pleasant surprise on Higher Ground is the inclusion of a lining hymn, “I Love the Lord, He Heard My Cry.” It’s delivered with the haunting a cappella unison singing of an old-time church congregation. If I were to pick a favorite track, it would be this one.

Elder Debra Henderson’s sophomore outing Higher Ground, produced by Melvin Seals, demonstrates that the Bay Area artist is not one-dimensional but capable of delivering gospel music in a variety of shades.

Three of Four Stars