Gail Stewart & Prayz4 – s/t
Gail Stewart & Prayz4 Self-titled Independent (release date: July 12, 2017) By Robert M. Marovich What is immediately evident about the self-titled CD by the Texas-based family gospel group Gail Stewart & Prayz4 is its emphasis on modernizing traditional hymns and gospels. For example, the group gives the nineteenth-century hymn [...]
Q&A with JGM Founder on “Peace Be Still”
JGM founder and historian Bob Marovich talks about his new book, Peace Be Still: How James Cleveland and the Angelic Choir Created a Gospel Classic, during a Q&A hosted by the publisher, University of Illinois Press. The book is available for pre-order and will be released officially on December 14, [...]
JGM Pick of the Week November 15, 2021
“Wonderful” Kim Person KLP Music Enterprise (release date: October 2021) www.kimpersontheartist.com By Robert M. Marovich Kim Person gives the Reverend F. C. Barnes’ classic “So Many Wonderful Things” a loping, shoulder-shaking treatment. Slowing the tempo ever so slightly, Person offers a litany of the many wonderful things about Jesus. Although [...]
“Immanuel” – Beverly Heath
“Immanuel” Beverly Heath Independent (release date: October 15, 2021) www.beverlyheath.com By Robert M. Marovich Atlanta-based gospel singer Beverly Heath’s contribution to the Christmas season is “Immanuel,” a heartwarmingly-rendered carol about the newborn Christ child. Surrounded by background vocalists, Heath weaves her lyrics around the very definition of Immanuel, God with [...]
Harriet Fraser – Peace
Harriet Fraser Peace Independent (release date: October 8, 2021) www.harrietfraser.com By Robert M. Marovich On her brief but touchingly lovely debut album Peace, soprano Harriet Frasier harmonizes with herself, two-parts unaccompanied, a touch of echo evoking the sense of being recorded in a stone-walled cathedral instead of the California studios [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: November 8, 2021
“God Kept Me”Beau Williams feat. the HamiltonesFrom the album Timeless (release date: September 24, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich “God Kept Me” by longtime vocalist Beau Williams, is a joyous gospel song about the constancy of the Most High. The rhythm guitar drives a handclapping tempo while popular vocal group [...]
Various Artists – Kerry Douglas Gospel Mix Christmas
Various Artists Kerry Douglas Gospel Mix Christmas Blacksmoke Music Worldwide (release date: November 5, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich It’s that time again—Christmas songs and albums are hitting music reviewers’ inboxes. Among the earliest is a Kerry Douglas holiday celebration, an extension of his popular and longstanding Gospel Mix franchise [...]
“I’ll Meet You” – Canton Spirituals
“I’ll Meet You” Canton Spirituals Malaco Music Group (2021) www.malaco.com By Robert M. Marovich Dr. Harvey Watkins Jr. and the Canton Spirituals send their love in “I’ll Meet You,” because nobody knows the day or the hour when it will be too late to say a final goodbye. On the [...]
Quinten Simon – God Did Just What He Said
Quinten Simon God Did Just What He Said Independent (release date: August 22, 2020) By Robert M. Marovich I don’t think I’m going too far out on a limb in proposing that Quinten Simon is a fan of the 1980s mass choir sound. His album, God Did Just What He [...]
JGM Pick of the Week November 1, 2021
“So Much to Thank God For” New Macedonia M.B. Church Mass Choir feat. Betty Griffin Keller From the CD Faithful (release date: September 4, 2020) https://mynmmbc.org/ By Robert M. Marovich “So Much to Thank God For” is more than a vibrant throwback choral piece from the New Macedonia Missionary Baptist [...]
“Leave It at the Cross” – Jenn Bostic
“Leave It at the Cross”Jenn Bostic(release date: October 15, 2021)www.jennbostic.com By Robert M. Marovich Singer-songwriter and musician Jenn Bostic’s atmospheric “Leave It at the Cross” instructs that all difficult problems, whether producing hurt, shame, or pain, are best dropped at the foot of Jesus. Their heaviness drags us down and [...]
God’s Children – It’s So Amazing
God’s Children It’s So Amazing Independent (2018) https://www.facebook.com/godschildrenmemphis By Robert M. Marovich On It’s So Amazing, the Memphis, Tennessee-based Shirika “Re Re” Flowers and God’s Children (and also Re Re’s eldest children), run through a battery of gospel quartet-style songs, rendered with a churchy vibe and with frequent vamps for [...]
Various Artists – Quartet is in My DNA
Various Artists Quartet is in My DNA 4 Winds / Malaco Music Group (release date: September 10, 2021) www.malaco.com By Robert M. Marovich On Quartet is in My DNA, the brainchild of Roy Ladson of Roy and Revelation, Paul Porter hosts a passel of current-day gospel singers who dust off [...]
JGM Pick of the Week October 25, 2021
“Open Up the Windows of Heaven” Lucinda Marie Independent (release date: August 10, 2021) www.LucindaMarieMusic.com By Robert M. Marovich Lucinda Marie, the self-described “former pastor’s wife,” puts on her stylish shouting shoes, lifts the hem of her long dress ever so slightly, and holy dances through this up-tempo piece. The [...]
“Thankful” – James Cutts
“Thankful”James CuttsIndependent (released April 16, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich Having recovered from the ravages of COVID-19 (his wife also contracted the virus and recovered), Pastor James Cutts sings his testimony on “Thankful,” a buoyant piece with a quiet storm R&B vibe. Though the lyrics focus mostly on generalities, the [...]
Various Artists – Sacred Soul of North Carolina
Various ArtistsSacred Soul of North CarolinaMusic Maker Foundation / Bible & Tire (release date: October 15, 2021)https://biglegalmessrecords.com/collections/bible-tire By Robert M. Marovich Just before the pandemic shut down the world, Alice Vines of the Glorifying Vines Sisters of Farmville, North Carolina (crate diggers will know their singles on Pinewood and Sound [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: October 18, 2021
“There Will Be a Light Again” Kali Joy From the CD Real Life (release date: September 24, 2021) www.kalijoy.com By Robert M. Marovich Christian singer Kali Joy’s “There Will Be a Light Again” may not be the single from her album Real Life, but it certainly ought to be. It’s [...]
Christina Bell – Still Faithful
Christina Bell Still Faithful Malaco Music Group (release date: July 30, 2021) www.malaco.com By Robert M. Marovich There's no place like home. So that's just where Christina Bell went, to her hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, to record a live worship service and package it as Still Faithful. Bell’s star has [...]
Visit Today : 700
This Month : 9490