Ziyon – Simply Ziyon

Ziyon
Simply Ziyon
(private release) 2008
www.myspace.com/ziyonofhoustontexas

Ziyon is a female group (Renee’ Clemons, Mykeshia Wiley, Jometra Pinesette and Sheila Chaptmon) that formed in March 2008 in Houston, Texas, a city with a rich gospel heritage that seems to be getting richer with every passing year. Clemons, the group’s manager, was once a vocalist with Houston’s Gospel Spirituals and still serves as a gospel announcer. She can be heard every Sunday morning from 7 to 9 a.m. on KGOL 1180 AM.

The group’s full-length release, Simply Ziyon, is a mix of contemporary and traditional gospel, though the group is at its best on the traditional pieces, such as “Thank You,” “Making a Way,” “Never Let Go” and “Some Glad Morning” (aka “I’ll Fly Away”). “Thank You” and “Making a Way” in particular possess more than a touch of gospel blues and are given apt voicing by Renee’ Clemons’ rootsy-edgy voice. The combination of Clemons’ hard singing and the ladies’ balanced quartet harmonies turn just about any song into an old-school outing.

Their namesake track, “Ziyon,” is given an acapella reading that provides momentary space for individual members to solo. It’s a refreshing technique to hear on a new gospel project because it is a rarity in this era of heavy background instrumentation.

Lyrically, Ziyon’s songs tred hallowed quartet ground, with ample helpings of Bible-supported messages that encourage, support, testify and glorify.

Simply Ziyon concludes with Paul Porter’s quartet hand-clapper “He Never Fails Me,” one of the album’s finest moments. My guess is that during live programs, Ziyon uses “He Never Fails Me” as its “B” selection, pacing the stage in lively animation during the performance and marching off single-file afterwards, hands aloft in triumph.

Three of Five Stars

gPod Picks: “Making a Way,” “He Never Fails Me.”