Terry Davis – A Songwriter’s Dream

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog

Gospel Music Workshop of America stalwart Terry Davis had a dream “to see God take my music all over the world.”  His debut disc, A Songwriter’s Dream, is the dream come true.

The eleven track project features songs written, performed, and co-produced by Davis, who recruited an ensemble of singers and musicians for support.  He sings his praise songs in a baritone that is at its finest when building in volume and energy for a big finish.

What A Songwriter’s Dream really demonstrates, however, is Davis’s giftedness as a pianist.  By accompanying himself during the first half of the contemplative “Majesty” and “For All These Blessings And More,” Davisadjusts the tempo to fit his vocal improvisation before the background vocalists join him for the second half.  Most of Davis’s songs sound inspired by Andrae Crouch and Thomas Whitfield, especially “For All These Blessings.”  To wit, Davis credits Whitfield as well as Jeffrey LaValley as mentors.

Davis demonstrates his fondness for traditional gospel, too, with a contemporary arrangement of “Hold To God’s Unchanging Hand” as “Hold To His Hand,” and by accompanying his mother, Dorothy L. Davis, singing Gloria Griffin’s classic “I’m So Grateful.”

Originally from Vancouver, Washington, Davisbegan singing at New Hope Missionary BaptistChurch in Portland, Oregon.  He moved to Columbus, Ohio in 2001 to be minister of music for Second Baptist Church, and is now plying his trade at Worship Center of Central Ohio.  His songs have been performed by several mass choirs, including the Portland Mass Choir, GMWA Men of Promise, and GMWA Youth Mass Choir.

A Songwriter’s Dream has a basic but decent production quality, with the balance of power in favor of the voices instead of the musicians, where it always should be.