JGM Pick of the Week – December 27, 2021
“Covered” Anisa Fowler RNU Records (release date: November 12, 2021) www.anisafowler.com By Robert M. Marovich “Covered” identifies Long Island's Anisa Fowler as an emerging gospel singer-songwriter of note. The melodic ballad, which Fowler co-wrote with Joshua Arnoux, reckons with the anxiety of the times by reminding listeners that no matter [...]
“Someone Has to Care” – Christian Scharen
Someone Has to Care: The Roots and Hip-Hop’s Prophetic Calling. By Christian Scharen. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books. 130 pp. (paperback). Illustrations, Notes, Bibliography. ISBN 978-1-5326-1217-6. $18.00 By Robert M. Marovich As Christian Scharen observes in his new book, Someone Has to Care, the titles of albums by hip-hop group The [...]
“I’m Gonna Say Thank You Lord”
“I’m Gonna Say Thank You Lord” Ricky Paul From the independent CD Just a Country Boy (release date: March 26, 2020) https://www.heavensound.com/artists/rickypaul.htm By Robert M. Marovich Gospel quartet music and country music are not as dissimilar as one might think. Artists from each genre heard one another on the radio [...]
1K Phew & Lecrae – No Church in a While
1K Phew & Lecrae No Church in a While Reach Records (release date: December 3, 2021) www.reachrecords.com By Robert M. Marovich Christian hip hop artists don’t need the four walls of a church to spread the good news and save souls. They never have. Quite the opposite – they do [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: December 13, 2021
“Troubles Don’t Last Always” Mona Fenner From the forthcoming EMG Alliance album I’m Still Here www.monafenner.com By Robert M. Marovich Encouraging people to keep the faith in the midst of trials and tribulations is something gospel music does better than any other music genre. In many ways, it’s what makes [...]
“There is a Time” – Garrick V. Morgan & Valerie V. Gay
“There is a Time” Garrick V. Morgan & Valerie V. Gay Cloud Records (release date: December 20, 2021) www.cloudrecordsllc.com By Robert M. Marovich Garrick V. Morgan and Valerie V. Gay blend their polished and passionate voices on “There is a Time,” which transforms Ecclesiastes 3 (“For everything there is a [...]
“He Brought Joy” – Bryan Andrew Wilson feat. the Wilsonettes
“He Brought Joy” Bryan Andrew Wilson feat. the Wilsonettes Bryan’s Songs / CE Music By Robert M. Marovich On the super up-tempo “He Brought Joy,” gospel stylist and Danville, Illinois, native Bryan Andrew Wilson contemporizes “I Can Tell the World,” a song first recorded about a century ago by the [...]
“Go Tell It on the Mountain” – Maverick City Music
“Go Tell It on the Mountain” Maverick City Music feat. Melvin Crispell III, Chandler Moore, and Mav City Gospel Choir From the Tribl Records album A Very Maverick Christmas (release date: November 30, 2021) www.maverickcitymusic.com By Robert M. Marovich Maverick City Music has taken the gospel music world by storm. [...]
JGM Pick of the Week December 6, 2021
“I’ll Say Yes” Ritchea Hodge Independent (release date: May 17, 2021) https://www.teammade.ca/ritchea-hodge By Robert M. Marovich It’s always a treat to hear fresh new voices in any genre, and Ritchea Hodge is one of them in gospel music. Born and raised in Brampton, Ontario, and a member of the Toronto [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: November 29, 2021
“I Believe” Fred Jerkins feat. Bishop Paul S. Morton From the DarkChild Gospel album A Project of Healing By Robert M. Marovich Not the 1953 inspirational pop song nor the James Fortune composition, this “I Believe” was written by Fred Jerkins and is the fifth radio single from A Project [...]
“El Shaddai” – Marjane’
“El Shaddai” Marjane Independent (release date: November 12, 2021) www.marjanemusic.com By Robert M. Marovich Who knew that the Hebrew words for Almighty God could sound so sinuous when lifted in a quiet storm jam? BET Sunday Best finalist Marjane’ (pron. Mar-ja-nay) proves it in her latest single, “El Shaddai.” The [...]
Darius Droc Jackson – The Great Commission
Darius Droc Jackson The Great Commission Independent (release date: July 17, 2020) www.youtube.com/mrdroc2010 By Robert M. Marovich I've heard plenty of independently-produced holy hip hop projects that leave me feeling meh. Whether it’s the hasty production, derivative beats, or humdrum rhymes, they fall short of their promise. Not so The [...]
Quentin Walston – The Good Book Suite
Quentin Walston The Good Book Suite (release date: November 20, 2021) www.quentinwalston.com By Robert M. Marovich Pianist-composer Quentin Walston’s The Good Book Suite is a four-part instrumental jazz piece with a spiritual foundation. A trio of piano, drums, and bass interprets Bible passages that brought Walston and his family through [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: November 22, 2021
“Waves” Strong Tower Church feat. Maurette Brown Clark From the album Fresh Wind - New Waves (release date: October 22, 2021) www.strongtowerlive.com By Robert M. Marovich Strong Tower Church went big on their debut album, recruiting veteran musicians and the likes of Maurette Brown Clark and Charlin Neal as featured [...]
Gene Hoskins – Homecoming (Deluxe Edition)
Download Gene HoskinsHomecoming (Deluxe Edition)Shanachie Entertainment (release date: October 29, 2021)www.shanachie.com By Robert M. Marovich Gene Hoskins, a mental health therapist and gospel singer from North Carolina, combines his passions to provide insight and encouragement on Homecoming (Deluxe Edition). Eliding seamlessly, the first two selections, “Prodigal P.O.V.” and the title [...]
“Come Sunday” – Trineice Robinson
“Come Sunday” Trineice Robinson feat. Cyrus Chestnut From the 4RM Music Productions album All or Nothing (release date: August 6, 2021) www.drtrineice.com By Robert M. Marovich “Come Sunday,” from Duke Ellington’s 1942 Black, Brown and Beige suite, never fails to stop time for saint and sinner alike. Mahalia Jackson’s 1958 [...]
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, [...]
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