JGM Pick of the Week: May 2, 2022
“Make It With Me” Ray Curenton Independent (release date: April 22, 2022) www.raycurenton.com By Robert M. Marovich “Make It With Me” is a lovely, introspective, and lyrically intricate song with the soul of a John Legend ballad. Written with Tim Dillinger and co-producer Brandon Adams, “Make It With Me” finds [...]
Damara Melissa – Beginnings (EP)
Damara Melissa Beginnings (EP) (release date: February 24, 2022) www.damaramelissa.com By Robert M. Marovich From Whitby, Ontario, singer-songwriter Damara Melissa evokes CCM singers Jamie Grace, Tori Kelly, and Nicole C. Mullins. Following a few recent singles, Beginnings is her first EP. Commencing her writing career to channel her emotions after [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: April 26, 2022
“I Got Joy” The Dorsetts Independent (release date: January 6, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich Husband-and-wife duo Arnold and Sharee Dorsett—known as the Dorsetts—offer “I Got Joy,” a simple tune with an easy rhythm and a catchy refrain that not only establishes the premise of the song but invites a [...]
Lawrence Hancock – Don’t Stop Caring
Lawrence Hancock Don’t Stop Caring Independent / Symphonic Distribution (release date: April 29, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich Don’t Stop Caring is Bishop Lawrence Hancock once again baring his soul and sharing the raw truth from the pulpit of experience. The Stellar-nominated Christian hip hop artist’s eighth album builds on [...]
Gregory King – Jesus Paid It All
Gregory King Jesus Paid It All The LAB Works Studio / Nadjaron Productions (2012) By Robert M. Marovich Although Nobody Can Do Me Like Jesus,” “Payday is Coming,” and the title track of Gregory King’s 2012 album may share titles with popular hymns and gospels, that’s where the similarity ends. [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: April 18, 2022
“Grateful” Earnest Pugh Blacksmoke Music Worldwide (2022) By Robert M. Marovich Earnest Pugh’s current single, “Grateful,” is a gently swaying ballad of thanksgiving for Christ’s love, expressed most ardently in his sacrifice for all humanity. Pugh and his background vocalists riff on the “you didn’t have to do it but [...]
“Beautiful Day” – Trenton Kirksey ft. Nikki Ross
“Beautiful Day” Trenton Kirksey ft. Nikki Ross Independent (2022) www.Facebook.com/MusicByTrent By Robert M. Marovich “Beautiful Day” is the debut single from Trenton Kirksey, a Houston-based baritone vocalist, songwriter, and conductor. Fellow Houstonian Nikki Ross is the vocalist on Kirksey’s track. To a classically-inspired and Latin-fired arrangement, Ross expresses unbridled joy [...]
JGM Pick of the Week – April 13, 2022
“Highest Praise” Terry Fuller Project ft. Justin Mickens Independent (release date: June 24, 2021) https://www.tjmusicgroup.com/ By Robert M. Marovich Accented by rhythmic foot thumps, Terry Fuller Project’s “Highest Praise” is a joyful selection that will set listeners to handclapping and foot tapping. Lead singer Justin Mickens handles vocals like the [...]
Martha Munizzi – Best Days
Martha Munizzi Best Days Martha Munizzi Music (release date: July 29, 2021) www.marthamunizzi.com By Robert M. Marovich Martha Munizzi’s latest live album, Best Days, is a well-orchestrated worship service that focuses on the reasons to celebrate, not worry, in the midst of today’s uncertainty. The paradox of joy in the [...]
Psalmist Raine & the ReFresh Team – ReFresh Worship Live 3.3
Psalmist Raine & the ReFresh Team ReFresh Worship Live 3.3 ReFresh Institute (release date: March 25, 2022) www.BeReFresh.com By Robert M. Marovich One thing is certain about Psalmist Raine’s ReFresh Worship Live 3.3: it keeps on going and going and going. The final disc of the three-volume ReFresh Worship Live [...]
JGM Pick of the Week – March 28, 2022
“All of My Help” The Dedicated Souls Elite and Creative Music Productions By Robert M. Marovich If “All of My Help” by the Ohio-based Dedicated Souls sounds like a Canton Spirituals track, it’s because it was written, produced, and is led by the Canton Spirituals’ own Antoine Porter. The message [...]
Various Artists – Malaco 50th Celebration
Various Artists Malaco 50th Celebration Malaco Music Group (release date: February 25, 2022) www.malaco.com By Robert M. Marovich The nearly two-hour Malaco 50th Celebration two CD set (and companion DVD) is one of the best releases thus far this year. Recorded live on July 12, 2018, at the record company’s [...]
“He Lives” – Corey Weaver
“He Lives” Corey Weaver Independent (release date: March 8, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich Corey Weaver, a young man from Oklahoma City with an old soul and a sky-high tenor, takes listeners to church on “He Lives.” It’s his finest single to date. Weaver and his background vocalists engage in [...]
JGM Pick of the Week – March 21, 2022
“You’ve Been Good to Me”Zacardi CortezBlacksmoke Music Worldwide (release date: January 27, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich “You’ve Been Good to Me” is a song with simple lyrics and a singable melody—essentially a chorus and pounding vamp—but it’s the aggressive, hard-charging way in which Zacardi Cortez and his background singers [...]
Johnny Ray Daniels – Whatever You Need
Johnny Ray Daniels Whatever You Need Bible & Tire (release date: May 6, 2022) https://fatpossum.com/collections/bible-tire-recording-co By Robert M. Marovich Like the Blind Boys of Alabama’s Jimmy Carter and the Savettes’ Goldwire McLendon, Johnny Ray Daniels didn’t record his first solo album after until after his Social Security checks started arriving. [...]
“Cry For Your Soul” – Angelo & Veronica
“Cry For Your Soul” Angelo & Veronica From the A&V Music album Back to the Gospel (album release date: July 29, 2021) www.angeloandveronica.com By Robert M. Marovich The previous few singles released by Angelo & Veronica didn’t move me that much, but this one, “Cry For Your Soul,” is among [...]
JGM Pick of the Week – March 14, 2022
“Peace Be Still” Kelontae Gavin Malaco Music Group (release date: January 20, 2022) www.malaco.com By Robert M. Marovich At the Malaco Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration in Jackson, Mississippi, gospel soloist Kelontae Gavin put his own melismatic touch on “Peace Be Still.” It’s from the CD and DVD chronicling the Fiftieth Anniversary [...]
“Some Day We’ll Meet” – Bill Moss Jr. & the B. M. & E. State Choir ft. Carolyn Jacobs
“Some Day We’ll Meet” Bill Moss Jr. & the B.M. & E. State Choir ft. Carolyn Jacobs From the Salathiel Records album His Majesty (album release: 2020) http://www.salathielrecords.com/ By Robert M. Marovich The B. M. & E. State Choir punctuates “Some Day We’ll Meet,” a gleeful evocation of the great [...]