“All Praise” – Anton Milton & Glorified
“All Praise” Anton Milton & Glorified Lunjeal Music Group/Malaco Music Group (2015) www.malaco.com South Carolina native Anton Milton, now working out of New Jersey, cites Israel Houghton, Fred Hammond, and John P. Kee among his inspirations. His single, “All Praise,” testifies to this with its energetic ensemble vibe. The kind [...]
Brad + Rebekah – All You’ve Done
Brad + Rebekah All You’ve Done Discovery House (release date: June 2, 2015) http://bradandrebekahmusic.com By Bob Marovich On their national debut album, All You’ve Done, Brad + Rebekah, a husband-and-wife praise team, loft their admiration and gratitude melodically, and vertically, to the Most High. The album opens, appropriately, with “Wake [...]
“Holy Spirit” – Marjane’
“Holy Spirit” Marjane' J Jane Music Group (2015) www.marjanemusic.com Marjane's lovely vocals float over this passionate, urgent call for spiritual guidance in daily life. The background vocalists are all Marjane, too—a multi-tracking technique first used in gospel in the early 1950s by Clara Ward and fellow West Coaster Doris Akers. [...]
“Thank You” – Tonya Lewis-Taylor
“Thank You” Tonya Lewis-Taylor From the CD Delayed But Not Denied www.tonyalewistaylor.com “Thank You” is a contemporary gospel song delivered energetically by Tonya Lewis-Taylor, who seems to summon her estimable vocal strength from within several vital organs to offer a declaration of gratitude to God. The background vocalists urge her [...]
Rev. J.C. Jenkins & the Sounds of Joy – Don’t You Forget to Remember
Rev. J. C. Jenkins & the Sounds of Joy Don’t You Forget to Remember Sharp Records (2015) www.sharprecordsusa.com www.reverbnation.com/revjcjenkinsthesoundsofjoy By Bob Marovich The Sounds of Joy, featuring the hard-singing lead vocals of Rev. J. C. Jenkins, is a nod to the deep southern soul quartet sound of the 1970s and [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: May 25, 2015
“In His Hands” The McDonald Sisters Ra-Ola Music Inc. (release date: April 1, 2015) A family group with more than 30 years of gospel singing experience, the McDonald Sisters of Fayetteville, North Carolina, continue to represent traditional gospel quartet with their new single, “In His Hands.” To an aisle-walking, handclapping [...]
Perfection – “Totally”
Photo Credit: Facebook Perfection “Totally” Malaco Music Group (2015) www.malaco.com On “Totally,” the members of contemporary quartet Perfection ("Word of God Speak") declare that they are tired of fighting fate and henceforth give themselves over completely--hands, feet, and heart--to God’s will. "Less of me and more of you" is [...]
Various Artists – Connected 2 Calvary, Vol. IV
Various Artists Connected 2 Calvary Vol. IV www.connected2calvary.com By Bob Marovich At a recent panel discussion co-hosted by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Recording Academy, gospel artist Tye Tribbett joked that releasing music in today’s technological society means literally releasing it, setting it free [...]
Kirk Whalum on Jazz: A Way to “Experience the Savior Who is Indescribable”
Photo Credit: Anna Webber By Bob Marovich From Mary Lou Williams to John Coltrane, jazz musicians over the years have, as Kirk Whalum puts it, “made a spiritual offering through their music.” With his celebrated series, The Gospel According to Jazz, Whalum makes his own spiritual offering, using [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: May 18, 2015
“Hero” AsOne feat. Lamar Campbell & Spirit of Praise From the Capital Christian Music Group CD AsOne (release date: May 23, 2015) www.asoneofficial.com By Bob Marovich Lisa Wright and Theresa Bailey are AsOne, billed as the first interracial gospel duo. Backed by the estimable strength of Lamar Campbell & Spirit [...]
Kirk Whalum: The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter IV (DVD)
Kirk Whalum The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter IV – Film/DVD Running time: 148 minutes Rendezvous Music (release date: May 19, 2015) www.kirkwhalum.com By Bob Marovich Whether you did or did not purchase the CD version of Kirk Whalum’s The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter IV when it was released this [...]
The Showers – (self titled)
The Showers The Showers A&P Records/Habakkuk Music/INgrooves (release date: April 21, 2015) www.theshowers.org By Bob Marovich The Showers is the national debut album for the Showers Family of Hammond, Louisiana, siblings who have been singing together since knee pants and recording since 2009. The octet pulled out all the stops, [...]
Funk Justice: 15 Fixes for Your Ministry Funks (Tami Rowbotham)
Funk Justice: 15 Fixes for Your Ministry Funks Tami Rowbotham Ministry Entrepreneur Press (2014) 251 pages Available from Amazon.com By Bob Marovich Confession time: I was once a burned out music minister. Years of organizing the music for a local church, Sunday after Sunday, had taken its toll. Music ministry [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: May 12, 2015
“All My Help” Pharis Evans Jr. & Loved Ones From the Fountain of Life CD Due Season www.facebook.com/fountainofliferecords Grammy- and Stellar-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer Pharis Evans Jr. comes from great musical stock—his uncle is Rev. Dr. Clay Evans and his father is Rev. Pharis Evans Sr. 'Nuff said. Not [...]
Tracey McFadden – I Still Believe
Tracey McFadden I Still Believe www.traceymcfadden.org By Bob Marovich Chicagoan Tracey McFadden’s debut album, I Still Believe, was recorded live at her home church, Bread of Life Missionary Baptist Church. An intimate gathering of friends and congregants support their home girl as she moves through eight selections. The best thing [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: May 5, 2015
“I Need U” Criss Righteous Rank 1 Entertainment Mention the name Criss “Righteous” Johnson to those in the know, and they will tell you he is a skillful accompanist who has worked with gospel quartets for decades. He even served as the longtime guitarist for Pastor Shirley Caesar. With “I [...]
Boyz of Triumph – Praise His Name
Boyz of Triumph Praise His Name Sharp Records (2015) www.reverbnation.com/theboyzoftriumph By Bob Marovich The Boyz of Triumph from Sycamore, Alabama, is a seven-member gospel quartet that blends the close harmony tradition with the contemporary gospel style. The harmonies are front and center on Praise His Name, the quartet's nine-track disc [...]
Murk – P31
Murk P31 Dedicated Music Group (release date: March 31, 2015) www.murkp31.com By Bob Marovich Christian hip hop artist Murk is a P31 girl. On her sophomore EP, P31, Murk employs rhymes and beats to encourage other women to join her in the movement. "P31" is a reference to Psalms 31, which sets [...]
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