Johnny B. Williams – Songs for the World to Sing
Johnny B. Williams Songs for the World to Sing Salathiel Records (2013) www.salathielrecords.com By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog I extolled the virtues of Johnny B. Williams in 2009 after listening to his five star album, The Way I Worship. With his latest CD, Songs for the World [...]
Chicago a cappella’s “Birth of Gospel” educates, entertains
“The Birth of Gospel”Chicago a cappella Saturday, April 12, 2014Nichols Concert Hall, Evanston, IllinoisBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogThe historic Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston was packed to the rafters to hear Chicago a cappella perform “The Birth of Gospel” yesterday evening.The mostly Caucasian crowd didn’t need the [...]
Chicago Choirs Rouse Audience at Allstate Gospel SuperFest
By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogMaybe I’m biased, too much of a choir geek, or maybe it was simply home court advantage, but for all the star power at yesterday’s Allstate Gospel SuperFest in Chicago, and there was much, the hometown choirs provided the evening’s most noteworthy performances.That’s [...]
Arnetta Murrill-Crooms (Self-Titled)
Arnetta Murrill-Crooms (Self-titled) On The Beat Entertainment (2013) www.OnTheBeatEntertainment.com By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog Arnetta Murrill-Crooms hails from the talented Murrill Family of North Carolina. Alumni of Donald Lawrence’s Tri-City Singers, the Murrill siblings released their own album, the Lawrence-produced Family Prayer, in 2008. It featured Arnetta [...]
Geneatha Wright – Just As I Am
Geneatha Wright Just As I Am Godfather Records (2013) www.godfathergospel.com By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog Geneatha Wright of South Florida offers Just As I Am. Her style falls within the Florida multicultural P&W sound made popular by the likes of William McDowell, Javen, Madelyn Berry, and sisters [...]
North Carolina Community Choir – A Story To Tell
North Carolina Community Choir A Story To Tell Malaco Records (2013) www.malaco.com By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog If there’s a choir to give the Mississippi and Chicago Mass Choirs a run for their money, it’s the North Carolina Community Choir. Formed initially to back the Sensational Nightingales [...]
Rev. Maceo Woods 2013 Gospel Supreme is Supreme Indeed
By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogWhere else but at Pastor Maceo Woods' Gospel Supreme can you hear the Christian Tabernacle Concert Choir, the First Church of Deliverance Radio and Television Choir, the Wooten Choral Ensemble, Minister Tim White, the Carson Sisters, Pastor DeAndre Patterson, and on and on....and then [...]
“Whatever You Need” – The North Carolina Community Choir
“Whatever You Need” The North Carolina Community Choir From the 4 Winds Records release A Story To Tell (2013) www.malaco.com With “Whatever You Need,” the North Carolina Community Choir puts an asterisk after the statement that the Southeastern U.S. is exclusive territory of the gospel quartet. The single is [...]
Denita Gibbs – Without You
Denita Gibbs Without You Audiostate Entertainment 55 (released August 13, 2013) www.audiostate55.com By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog Without You is Denita Gibbs’ sophomore release but her first for Audiostate 55 Entertainment and its muscular distribution. It is also her first album in nine years but it is [...]
Clara – A Musical on the Life of Clara Ward
ClaraOpen Door Repertory CompanyOak Park, Illinoiswww.opendoorrep.orgBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog"I had to die in order to live."So says the spirit of Clara Ward in the opening scene of Clara, a musical on the life of the gospel star, written and directed by Jeff Award-nominated McKinley Johnson (Train [...]
TBGB Pick of the Week: July 1, 2013
"I Can Dance" Brent Jones feat. the Orange County Gospel Choir Available on iTunes (July 16, 2013) “You know, I’ve been in the church all my life and people have said worship is a slow song. You’re WRONGGGG!” So declares Brent Jones, Grammy and Stellar Award nominated recording artist, producer, [...]
TBGB Pick of the Week: June 3, 2013
“Good To Me” Carolyn Traylor Malaco Records (2013) www.malaco.com Carolyn Traylor’s “Good To Me” is a brassy, bluesy declaration of God’s goodness with a beat that will have listeners clapping hands and bobbing heads. It has the right blend of traditional fire and contemporary smoothness. The Greenville, Texas, native is [...]
“Praise Your Way Through” – The Showers
“Praise Your Way Through”The ShowersAquila and Priscilla Records (2013)From Hammond, Louisiana, the Showers, a family gospel group, garnered national attention in 2009 for its debut album, Hear My Prayer. The single, “Jesus You Died,” earned a Rhythm of Gospel Award in 2011 for Best Traditional Song of the Year.The Showers [...]
Alexis Spight – L.O.L.: Living Out Loud
Alexis Spight L.O.L.: Living Out Loud Music World Gospel (2013) www.musicworldgospel.com By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog During “Musiq,” a selection from her debut CD, L.O.L.: Living Out Loud, BET Sunday Best Season Five First Runner Up Alexis Spight sings that music is part of her DNA, that if you [...]
Donald Malloy – Live: Finally Home
Donald Malloy Live: Finally Home (2012) www.donaldmalloyministries.com By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog. There’s something about old-fashioned, good-time gospel music that alleviates troubles by its very presence. It does not need complex, mind-altering, or heavy riffing to ease the burdens. That’s what Donald Malloy’s sixth CD, Live: Finally [...]
“Waiting” – Carolyn Traylor
“Waiting” Carolyn Traylor Malaco Records (2012) www.malaco.com Carolyn Traylor (“There’s A Story Behind My Praise”) is waiting for her change to come. She knows it’s on the way, too, because whenever she gets discouraged, “I pull out the resume and I see how you always brought me through.” If that [...]
The Virginia Aires – Live
The Virginia Aires Live Dove Records, Inc. (2009) href="http://www.myspace.com/thevirginiaaires">www.myspace.com/thevirginiaaires By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog The last time TBGB reported on the Virginia Aires was in 2008, when the Chesapeake, Virginia quartet was waging war on drugs with their single, “Drugs are a Trick of the Enemy.” [...]
Wincey – Time to Say
Wincey Time to Say Winceyco Music (2012) www.winceycomusic.com By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog. “I’m musically inclined to sing the songs that glorify.” So croons singer-songwriter Wincey Terry-Bryant on the title track of her self-produced Time to Say, an album she began recording in 2008. The songs, she [...]