Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis Featuring Damien Sneed and Chorale Le Chateau The Abyssinian Mass Blue Engine Records (release date: March 18, 2016) www.blueenginerecords.org By Bob Marovich During the sermon section of The Abyssinian Mass, Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III welcomes congregants with a statement that is the underlying theme of the piece: “Everybody has a place in the house of God.” Unity in diversity under one supreme deity is the binding agent of The Abyssinian Mass, written in partnership with Harlem’s historic Abyssinian Baptist Church by Pulitzer Prize-winning jazz musician, composer, and educator Wynton Marsalis. Blending ...

Click on the image to your left to hear the latest episode of the Music Hour, where you can hear the music you read about on the Journal of Gospel Music.     Track Listing (in order of appearance): I’ll stick with Jesus – Mississippi Mass Choir I got better coming – LaVarnga Hubbard He delivered me – Pastor Marlon Lock #War – Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago Forever I will – Lonnie Hunter feat. Structure Just for me – Tim Spady feat. Jeff Murrell I know a man named Jesus – Shawn Brown & Da Boys Get right with ...

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 classically- and church-trained Sneed is a member of the orchestral school of gospel music populated by artists such as Richard Smallwood, Donald Lawrence, and the late Thomas Whitfield. In this school, lush, dense vocal harmonies combine with astute songwriting and arranging to present gospel music at its most contemporary while ...

JGM‘s Bob Marovich talks with the multi-talented Damien Sneed about his new CD, Broken to Minister – Deluxe Edition (release date: March 3), his appearance with Wynton Marsalis on the PBS program, “Everyone Has a Place,” spotlighting the Abyssinian Mass, his directorial debut at Carnegie Hall, and the relationship of classical and gospel music. Damien provides a music workshop in fifteen minutes!