JGM Pick of the Week: May 17, 2021
“He’s Working on Me” The McDuffies feat. Bishop Darrell McFadden From the Ruffboyzmusic Group LLC album The Legacy Continues (album release date: January 15, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich The McDuffies salute the memory of their brother Ricky McDuffie with a new album and single. The single, “He’s Working on [...]
“I’ve Got the Victory” – Na’kaja Reed
“I’ve Got the Victory” Na’kaja Reed DAF Entertainment Group (release date: April 30, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich This song has the goods not so much because of the song itself—a fairly conventional gush of gratitude for God’s goodness—as for the commanding delivery of gospel singer Na’kaja Reed. From Saginaw, [...]
Derrick “Doc” Pearson – A Family Man
Derrick “Doc” Pearson A Family Man I AM Music Company (release date: May 7, 2021) www.iammusiccompany.com By Robert M. Marovich Bassist, arranger, and songwriter Derrick “Doc” Pearson has graced the e-pages of JGM in the past with inspirational smooth jazz projects such as 2018’s I Still Do: Songs for a [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: May 10, 2021
“He’s Way Ahead of You” Denita Gibbs DGW Entertainment (release date: March 6, 2021) www.denitagibbs.com By Robert M. Marovich Now THIS is the Denita Gibbs I remember from her 2013 CD, Without You. The Birmingham, Alabama, native’s declarative vocals on “He’s Way Ahead of You” are locked in from the [...]
“My Help” – Angela Moss Poole feat. Micah Stampley
“My Help” Angela Moss Poole feat. Micah Stampley 141st Lane Music/DarkChild Gospel www.angelamosspoole.com By Robert M. Marovich Singer-songwriter Angela Moss Poole puts one of her favorite Scriptures, Psalm 121, to music, and invites gospel crooner Micah Stampley along for the journey. The message is simple, the melody is appealing, and [...]
“He’ll Be There” – RiZen
“He’ll Be There” RiZen DAF Entertainment Group / Tyscot By Robert M. Marovich Although Adriann Lewis-Freeman has carved out a solo career, it’s been a few years since the Stellar Award-winning RiZen vocal group has come together to release a new single. The drought is over with “He’ll Be There.” [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: May 3, 2021
“Be Alright” Friends aka Anointed Friends Thompson Records (release date: March 15, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich In “Be Alright,” the female quartet Friends (aka Anointed Friends) deliver a simple song of reassurance and encouragement to a driving countrified beat. The ladies pepper their lyrics with familiar church aphorisms (e.g., [...]
“I Am Black and I Matter” – Lemmie Battles
“I Am Black and I Matter” Lemmie Battles DAF Entertainment Group (release date: March 26, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich Since June 2020, there’s been a notable increase in gospel artists releasing singles with messages linked directly to Black Lives Matter and the racial injustice running rampant through the nation [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: April 26, 2021
“Come (Broken, Scarred)” Mary Ozaraga Independent (release date: January 3, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich There’s an orchestral ambience to Christian singer-songwriter Mary Ozaraga’s first single release, “Come (Broken, Scarred).” Ozaraga’s guitar emits droplets of notes as drums thump like marching feet and synthesized sounds float gently above the singer [...]
Lawrence Hancock – Need of You
Lawrence Hancock Need of You (pre-orders begin April 26, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich Bishop Lawrence Hancock’s new Christian hip hop release, Need of You, emulates his summer 2020 album, Who I Am, more in musical vibe than in message. For his seventh album, Hancock focuses less on uncertainty and [...]
“Watch Him Do It” – Kendra Carr-Pineda & Redemption Faith Global Ministries
“Watch Him Do It”Kendra Carr-Pineda & Redemption Faith Global MinistriesIndieBlu (release date: December 4, 2020) Pensacola, Florida's own Kendra Carr-Pineda leads the singers of Redemption Faith Global Ministries, where she is pastor, on the double-time “Watch Him Do It.” From the outset, rapid fire drumming on the backbeat and electronic [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: April 19, 2021
“The One” Jewell & Converted OverBoard Records (release date: April 9, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich Those who appreciate joyous gospel quartet music will welcome “The One,” the latest single from the award-winning St. Louis quartet Jewell & Converted. Jewell Taylor leads the female quartet on a litany of examples [...]
David Wright – Let the Organ Play
David Wright Let the Organ Play Godfather Records (release date: February 12, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich Typically, we hear Pastor David Wright leading the New York Fellowship Mass Choir. For Let the Organ Play, the choir takes a rest and Wright lights up the Hammond B3 to play an [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: April 12, 2021
“Still Gon’ Trust” Joshua Rogers Mixed Bag Music Group, LLC (release date: March 19, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich Joshua Rogers sums up the sentiments of most in the first few lines of his new single, “Still Gon’ Trust:” “It’s been quite a year / A test of my faith [...]
Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia (Lifetime)
Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia (106 minutes, dir. Kenny Leon, 2021) www.mylifetime.com By Robert M. Marovich Lifetime did not ask me to review Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia, but since a few individuals have inquired as to my thoughts on the biopic, I thought I’d post them here. First, I commend executive [...]
“Tender and Mighty” – The Wood Drake Sessions
"Tender and Mighty” The Wood Drake Sessions feat. Tammy Bullock Independent (release date: March 11, 2021) https://thewooddrakesessions.com/ By Robert M. Marovich In lyric and melody, “Tender and Mighty” has the soul of an ancient hymn wrapped in contemporary clothing. With the support of an angelic-voiced choir, lead vocalist Tammy Bullock [...]
Kelontae Gavin – The N.O.W. Experience
Kelontae Gavin The N.O.W. Experience RCA Inspiration / Marquis Boone Enterprises (release date: March 5, 2021) www.rcainspiration.com By Robert M. Marovich Some gospel artists you meet outside of the church environment startle you when you witness their artistic presence in the spotlight. One is Jekalyn Carr—quiet and measured in informal [...]
“Holy” – Mark Hubbard & The Voices feat. Pastor Don Clark
“Holy” Mark Hubbard & the Voices feat. Pastor Don Clark Independent (release date: March 15, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich Growing up in the Catholic church, we'd sing “Holy Holy Holy” with such lackluster spirit that I wasn’t sure whether we were worshiping God or putting Him to sleep. Since [...]