Singing the Hymns – Karen Washington and the New Singing Stars

Karen Washington and the New Singing Stars
Singing the Hymns
Dream Reality Records (2010)
http://www.klwashington.com/

Reviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.

On Singing the Hymns, Karen Washington and the New Singing Stars render timeless hymns, revival songs and gospels such as “Amazing Grace,” “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross,” and “Nothing But the Blood.” The CD’s ten selections are so lodged in the subconscious of Christians throughout the world that you’ll find yourself singing along with no need of a hymnbook.

What the female quartet does is give the ten classics a quartet feel and beat with modern-day traditional quartet accompaniment of guitar, bass, drums and electric keyboards. Gratefully, the instrumentation complements, but does not interfere with, the harmonies.

Evoking quartets such as the Gospel Keynotes and Pilgrim Jubilees, Washington delivers a sermonette on “I Need Thee,” where, in a sign of the times, the encounter with a troubled soul takes place at the local gym.

“Glory to His Name” is the album’s high point, a mid-tempo piece on which the group’s harmony is particularly tight. Here and there on Singing the Hymns, Producer Eric Sharper blends his voice with the female quartet, giving the ensemble a mixed group timbre within the basic quartet framework.

Karen Washington is a board member of the South Georgia Chapter of the American Gospel Quartet Convention and the AGQC Chapter in Brunswick, Georgia. She and the New Singing Stars have been nominated for three 2011 Rhythm of Gospel Awards: Quartet CD of the Year (for Singing the Hymns), Female Quartet Group of the Year and Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year. For more information, go to http://www.therhythmofgospelawards.com/.

Three of Five Stars

Picks: “I Need Thee,” “Glory to His Name.”