Wilma Bivens – God Will Do It (Live)

Wilma Bivens
God Will Do It (Live)
D-Lap Productions 2009
www.dlapproductions.com

On the title track of her debut album, God Will Do It, Houston’s Wilma Bivens subconsciously channels James Cleveland’s “That’s Good Enough for Me” when she sings, “I may not ever sing at the Stellars/I may never sell a million CDs/I may never get played on the radio/But that’s alright with me…my God has promised to provide.”

Among those provisions: Bivens was honored last July by the Houston Chapter of the GMWA during its “Salute to Houston’s Gospel Music Legends.” As well she should be: she has spent more than four decades as an active GMWA member. She is captain of the soprano section leaders of the GMWA Mass Choir and a member of the GMWA Houston Chapter.

Bivens should also be very proud of God Will Do It. It is a powerful indie project that showcases an experienced gospel singer who, when she isn’t shouting, sounds as if she’s about to. The album features a selection of songs written by the likes of fellow Houston Chapter member V. Michael McKay and Jeffrey LaValley. Tommy Hammond provides superb music direction and some wonderful piano licks throughout. Richard Chance all but makes the B3 speak in tongues on LaValley’s “Steadfast Love.”

Most of the recording was done in front of a live audience at Houston’s Sunlight Baptist Tabernacle. Live is where Bivens is most comfortable. Among the studio-produced tracks is the urban contemporary “Everything Will Be Alright,” on which Bivens shares the microphone with her young grandchildren Traiveon and Jalen Dunlap. The young’uns lap their granny until she’s nigh breathless.

God Will Do It is produced by her son, Brian Dunlap, who also wrote two songs for the CD. He told Bivens, “Mom, you just sing and I’ll do the rest.” Sang she did. It was alright for the live audience and it will be for you, too.

Four of Five Stars

gPod Picks: “God Will Do It,” “Mountain Be Moved,” “Just When I Need Him.”