The Gospel Angels – Turn It Around
The Gospel Angels Turn It Around (2012) www.thegospelangels.com By Bob Marovich The Gospel Angels of Washington, DC, have traveled the country and the world for more than three decades, serving up heaping helpings of church wisdom with a savory traditional gospel quartet flavor. Some of the songs on the group’s [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: April 27, 2015
“Just Jesus” Bishop Jonathan Greer Released February 3, 2015 Now when is the last time you heard “Just Jesus” sung as a single? Thank God for Bishop Jonathan Greer II and his choir. They righteously reprise the good old Zion song, which Greer did originally with the Cathedral of Faith [...]
Casey J – The Truth
Casey J The Truth Marquis Boone Enterprises/Tyscot Records (released April 21, 2015) www.tyscot.com By Bob Marovich The next best thing to a live gospel music program is listening to a live gospel music program on a recording. That’s why it was smart for Casey J to release her debut album, [...]
“Something Big” – Jekalyn Carr
"Something Big” Jekalyn Carr Luneal Music Group/Malaco Music Group (2015) www.malaco.com By Bob Marovich Young singers and pop music go together like bacon and eggs. In the gospel music industry, however, it can be more difficult for a young person to gain traction. Even though churches offer a variety of [...]
Robert E. Person – Love Divine
Robert E. Person Love Divine REP Music (2015) www.roberteperson.com By Bob Marovich The first thing you notice when listening to Robert E. Person’s new album, Love Divine, is the bigness of the singer's voice. It’s Broadway musical big, regardless of whether Person is summoning deep bass notes or launching into [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: April 20, 2015
“But God” Pastor Judge Gardner Jr. presents The Voices of Testimony Ensemble Twitter: @LTMCHICAGO Who can resist a hand-clapping choir rouser, Chicago style? I sure can’t. “But God” by the Voices of Testimony Ensemble from the Living Testimony Church on Chicago’s Southeast Side (Judge Gardner Jr., Pastor) satisfies the appetite [...]
Brother’s Keeper Explores Power of Forgiveness, Grace, and Suffering
Brother’s Keeper Desert Wind Films In Theaters May 29, 2015 www.brotherskeeperfilm.com By Bob Marovich Faith-inspired films can sometimes come off as one-dimensional as Hallmark made-for-TV movies. Not so Brother’s Keeper. Directed by T. J. Amato and Josh Mills and released by Desert Wind Studios, Brother's Keeper employs a smart and ever-unfolding storyline [...]
The Naddiks – 21CB
The Naddiks 21CB Manga Republic (2014) www.thenaddiks.com By Bob Marovich Inspiration comes from every direction, from around the world, and through all styles of music. On their EP 21CB (i.e., 21st Century Believer), Canberra, Australia rock trio the Naddiks blend the proto-punk of Stiff Little Fingers and the Undertones (or [...]
The Fairfield Four – Still Rockin’ My Soul
The Fairfield Four Still Rockin’ My Soul Fairfield Four Records (2015) www.thefairfieldfour.com By Bob Marovich In 1925, when the Fairfield Four organized in Nashville, Tennessee, quartet singing was done a cappella. No instruments, just the human voice. And God saw that it was good. No--great. Over the years, quartets added [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: April 13, 2015
“I Am Free” Ladell Cole From the CD I Am Free www.cdbaby.com/cd/ladellcole2 Singer-songwriter Ladell Cole lofts falsetto notes over this gentle, hand waving anthem of eternal gratitude to Jesus for the price he paid to purchase the world’s freedom. The melody is lovely and the key change adds just the [...]
Various Artists: An Evening with the Legends of Quartet Live
Various Artists An Evening with the Legends of Quartet Live Malaco/4 Winds www.malaco.com By Bob Marovich Malaco Records and its 4 Winds subsidiary are the main standard bearers for gospel quartet singing, a style that once dominated the gospel charts but has since fallen behind mass choirs and small choirs in radio [...]
“Wanna Be” – Wincey
“Wanna Be” Wincey Winceyco Music (2015) www.winceycomusic.com Wincey Terry-Bryant’s “Wanna Be,” co-written with musician Ted Brancato, is an ironic play on the definition of a person who seeks the spotlight but lacks the talent to get there. The kind of “wanna be” Wincey sings about is one who wants to [...]
Filmmaker Explores Women in Blues and their Gospel Roots
Lisa Eismen (left) is a U.S. born filmmaker now living in Australia. Filmmaker Lisa Eismen is seeking the help of the gospel and blues community. Time is running out with only 6 days left to help her fund this inspirational film about women artists. By Bob Marovich (Sponsored [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: April 6, 2015
“Pray” Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir From the CD Pray (released February 2015) www.brooklyntabernacle.org Lead vocalist Timiney Figueroa sings passionately about the power of prayer as the wave of delicious sound that is the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir rolls over her in giant washes of majestic harmony. The song is the title track [...]
“On the Other Side of Through” – Prez Blackmon
“On the Other Side of Through” Prez Blackmon www.cdbaby.com/cd/prezblackmon5 Over a churchy flourish of warbling organ, Prez Blackmon, of the Stellar-nominated duo Renee Spearman & Prez, traverses up and down the treble scale as he waxes melismatic on the theme, “there’s a blessing on the other side of through.” Background [...]
Damien Sneed feat. the Levites – Broken to Minister: The Deluxe Edition
Damien Sneed Featuring the Levites Broken To Minister: The Deluxe Edition LeChateau Earl Records (release date: March 3, 2015) www.lechateauearl.com By Bob Marovich Recorded live in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2013, Broken To Minister: The Deluxe Edition builds on Damien Sneed and the Levites’ previously released Broken To Minister EP. The [...]
Jor’Dan Armstrong – 52 Weeks of Summer
Jor’Dan Armstrong 52 Weeks of Summer Power Move Management (release date: March 31, 2015) www.jordanarmstrongmusic.com By Bob Marovich If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, summer is nigh upon you. Jor’Dan Armstrong’s new CD, 52 Weeks of Summer, is an aural siren signaling the warmer, better days ahead, literally and [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: March 30, 2015
“Forever I Will” Lonnie Hunter feat. Structure From the forthcoming Tyscot CD #GETITDONE www.lonniehuntermusic.com Recently signed to major gospel label Tyscot Music and Entertainment, the Stellar Award-winning singer, choir director, Radio One show host, former male model, Air Force veteran, and native Chicagoan Lonnie Hunter wasted no time getting a [...]
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