“Free to Worship” – Minister James Willis & Nu Praze
“Free to Worship” Minister James Willis & Nu Praze Independent (release date: February 2020) Available digitally By Bob Marovich “Free to Worship” is a vigorous and robust rhythm and praise piece from award-winning singer-songwriter, musician, and choir director Minister James A. Willis Jr. of Oklahoma City. Taking John 8:36 for [...]
Reba Rambo – Confessions
Reba Rambo Confessions Entertainment One (original release date: 1980; digital release: May 1, 2020) www.rebarambo.com By Bob Marovich Originally released forty years ago, Reba Rambo’s solo album Confessions is getting a redux courtesy of Entertainment One. It's the latest Rambo album to be re-introduced since her 1977 disc, Lady, was [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: April 28, 2020
“Leap of Faith” YimikaSoul From the Yimikasoulfactory CD Leap of Faith (release date: March 20, 2020) By Bob Marovich Houston, Texas singer YimikaSoul opens “Leap of Faith” like a veteran gospel stomper, her voice big and expansive like an evangelist starting a prayer service. From there, she shares the spotlight [...]
Da’ T.R.U.T.H. – Chasing Ghosts (EP)
Da’ T.R.U.T.H. Chasing Ghosts (EP) Independent (release date: March 27, 2020) By Bob Marovich Christian hip hop artist Da’ T.R.U.T.H. drops unvarnished facts on his new three-track EP Chasing Ghosts. “Never Fail,” the single from the musical appetite whetter, is the finest and most radio-friendly of the three selections. Featuring [...]
“Man from Galilee” – DK. Dru feat. Bishop Rance Allen, Paul Porter, and Chris Byrd & True Victory
“Man From Galilee” DK. Dru feat. Bishop Rance Allen, Paul Porter, and Chris Byrd & True Victory SRT Entertainment (release date: February 7, 2020) By Bob Marovich This celebration of Jesus’s miracles and ode of gratitude for his ultimate sacrifice is an intergenerational pile-on of top-shelf singers—from Bishop Rance Allen [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: April 20, 2020
“We Are Family, We Are Friends” Darius Twyman & Destiny Character Music LLC (release date: February 21, 2020) By Bob Marovich Detroit singer, songwriter, and choir leader Darius Twyman teams up with his longstanding choir, Destiny, for a song with a dual purpose: to encourage global unity and to offer [...]
Calvin Bridges – Gospel Church Generations
Calvin Bridges Gospel Church Generations PNEUMA / Spirit Recordings, Inc. (release date: October 8, 2019) By Bob Marovich Despite its unassuming packaging, Calvin Bridges’ Gospel Church Generations offers plenty of songs, old and new, for choir directors and worship leaders to teach their groups. Bridges, a singer, songwriter, director, and [...]
“It’s On the Way” – Chozen Believers
“It’s On the Way” The Chozen Believers Independent (release date: April 2020) By Bob Marovich Most gospel songs these days speak to the world’s current condition. People need hope and encouragement, after all. The Chozen Believers’ debut single, “It’s on the Way,” certainly offers a message everyone needs to hear [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: April 14, 2020
“While Traveling Through” Shonda English feat. Lemmie Battles From the forthcoming album Travelin’ (release date: March 13, 2020) By Bob Marovich Combine the sanctuary-honed talents of Shonda English and Lemmie Battles, veteran musician Richard Gibbs, and David Walker & High Praise of Atlanta, Georgia, and you have the ingredients of [...]
Various Artists: Carolina’s Got Talent
Various Artists Carolina’s Got Talent Ruffboyzmusic Group LLC and Overboard Records (release date: April 17, 2020) By Bob Marovich From the looks of the Billboard gospel charts, you might think traditional gospel music is dead and gone, but that’s not the case. In the Carolinas, for example, plenty of wooden [...]
Erica Reed – (s/t)
Erica Reed Erica Reed Independent (release date: January 10, 2020) www.ericareedmusic.com By Bob Marovich On her new, self-titled album, the St. Louis-based singer-songwriter Erica Reed journeys into new production territory. For example, atmospheric electronica and 808 beats propel several selections, such as “Enough,” where Reed testifies about Jesus’s ability to [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: April 6, 2020
“In His Hands” Uncle Chucc & the Zion Messengers Uncle Chucc Music (release date: April 1, 2020) By Bob Marovich When Tyler Perry asked individuals to sing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” in a show of global solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic, it seemed to come out [...]
Michelle David & the Gospel Sessions: Vol. 4
Michelle David & the Gospel Sessions Vol. 4 MDGS Records (release date: March 6, 2020) http://michelledavidandthegospelsessions.com/ By Bob Marovich If you didn’t know better, you’d think that the fourth volume of songs by Michelle David & the Gospel Sessions is a long lost vinyl album from the 1970s, but it’s [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: March 30, 2020
“Without Condition” Ashy Akakpo Independent (release date: February 16, 2020) https://www.ashyakakpo.com By Bob Marovich From North-West London, England, indie gospel artist Ashy Akakpo tests industry waters with her debut single, “Without Condition.” Understated and focused wholly on lyrics about God’s unconditional love, “Without Condition” introduces a young woman who sounds [...]
Greg Harris – Reaching
Greg Harris Reaching KNEntertainment / Sabbath Day Records (release date: January 5, 2020) By Bob Marovich Reaching, the new studio CD by Pastor Greg Harris of Little Rock, Arkansas, features a handful of songs of praise, inspiration, and gratitude sung in several styles by Harris and a small choir. JGM’s [...]
The Best is Yet to Come – James C. Birdsong Jr.
The Best is Yet to Come: A Testimony of One Young Man’s Redemption. By James C. Birdsong Jr. T & J Publishers, 2017. 362pp. (softcover). ISBN 978-0-9994121-7-6 By Bob Marovich Too often, memoirs written by members of famous families paint a rosy portrait of their lives. Not so in James [...]
“Just One Plague” – Esther Igbekele JP
“Just One Plague” Esther Igbekele JP By Bob Marovich To my knowledge, Nigerian gospel singer Esther Igbekele is the first music minister to release a song about COVID-19. Set to a buoyant West African rhythm, “Just One Plague” is a folk ballad that chronicles the impact Coronavirus has had on [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: March 23, 2020
“Out of This” Jason Williams Paper City Records (release date: March 20, 2020) By Bob Marovich “Out of This” has one of the smoothest, mellowest grooves I’ve heard in gospel this year. Despite the contemporary setting led by acoustic guitar, the lyrics cut right to the soul like an old [...]
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