Category: Features

"Free" – Tim Bowman, Jr.

“Free”
Tim Bowman, Jr.
From the upcoming CD, Beautiful (Available April 24, 2012)
www.timbowmanjr.com

Tim Bowman, Jr. scatted his way to notoriety on his aunt Vickie Winans’ radio hit, “How I Got Over.”  Now the 22 year-old Wayne State University pharmacy student–whose father is the renowned jazz guitarist Tim Bowman, Sr.–is stepping again to the forefront of the music scene with “Free,” the current single from his own soon-to-be-released CD, Beautiful.

“Free is a song that is very dear to me because it is a song that I can relate to myself,” says Bowman, who penned the inspirational song with producer/composer Josh Davis.  “As a young person in a traditional church setting where things are sometimes so cookie cutter or strict, it kinda makes it a little challenging for young people my age to express themselves as it relates to their way of worshipping God.  So this song just simply declares that I’m free to worship, free to shout, free to dance without any restraints or reservations. I want all of my music to cause people to feel again and to be liberated to worship God. So I encourage everyone to declare and walk in your freedom.”

Beautiful drops April 24, and features guest appearances by Vickie Winans and Dorinda Clark Cole.  Marvin Winans, Sr. sits in the producer’s chair for a medley on the 13-track set.

"It Could've Been My Son" – John P. Kee

“It Could’ve Been My Son”
John P. Kee
www.johnpkeeonline.com

Last month when I expressed my outrage about the Trayvon Martin case (see related story), I reported the gospel community’s response and voiced my hope for the momentum to continue.

Pastor John P. Kee has set to music the sentiment of millions of parents all over the country with his brand new single, “It Could’ve Been My Son.”

Once a street thug and drug dealer, the father of nine witnessed firsthand the senseless violence that occurred in his neighborhood, including the untimely death of a close friend.  Since his spiritual transformation, the award-winning singer and Charlotte pastor has pursued an aggressive street ministry, especially to inner city communities.  For the past five years, Kee has hosted a gun exchange program–allowing people to trade in their guns for gift cards.  The guns are then given to the police to be destroyed.

“It Could’ve Been My Son” is available on iTunes.

Related Story
Members of the gospel community support justice for Trayvon Martin

GMF Sightings – Keynotes’ Guitarist Val Alexander

 
 
 
GMF sighted Val Alexander, longtime guitarist and member of Willie Neal Johnson and the Gospel Keynotes, this weekend at New Hope Person Baptist Church in Timberlake, NC.  Alexander traveled with the quartet (whose notable songs include “Show Me the Way” and “Jesus, You’ve Been Good to Me”) approximately 25 years.  Currently, he performs with Mattie Alston (also known as “The Dipping Lady”) and the Voices of Praise from Greensboro.

"Glory" – Mario Brown

“Glory”
Mario Brown
From the upcoming CD, The Mario Brown Project (Available Spring 2012)
www.bronxbridgeent.com 
 
The worship ballad “Glory” is the current single from newcomer Mario Brown’s forthcoming album, The Mario Brown Project.  The singer, songwriter, and musician is signed with Bronx Bridge Entertainment, Inc. and F. Hammond Music.
 
With the tenderness of a warm embrace, Brown sings to the Lord, “I’m living all for Your glory; I found my purpose in You.  That’s why I’m singing, telling everyone my story…”  His emotion is intensified by the beautifully arpeggiated piano chords, lush strings, and occasional interjection of an electric guitar’s distortion.  
 
Brown is a praise and worship leader and the Minister of Music over Christian Faith Fellowship Church Choir in Milwaukee, WI.

Speak Myself Free – Robert Jamison and Victory

Robert Jamison and Victory
Speak Myself Free
RJM Publishing (2011)
www.robertjamisonandvictory.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Robert Jamison and Victory are on a mission to spread the hope and joy of salvation to all who will receive their message.  The Kentucky native and his gospel ensemble are off to a fairly good start with their four-song introductory project, Speak Myself Free.

Described by Jamison as “good ol gospel music,” the CD opens and closes with two uptempo tracks (“Warfair” and “Can’t Find A Friend”).  The slow ones (“Speak Myself Free” and “I Cannot Make It”) are sandwiched in the middle.  All were written, produced, and arranged by Kyri Demby.

“I Cannot Make It” is the best of the foursome.  Tonya Thomas’s soprano really soars just as the song passes the five-minute mark.  Jamison takes the lead on the last number, “Can’t Find A Friend.”

Constructively speaking, the CD doesn’t quite hit the mark musically.  There are pitch problems in a few spots with both the lead and choir vocals, which a bit more rehearsal time and fine-tuning could remedy.  Were I watching the ensemble perform live, perhaps I wouldn’t notice the lengthy intros to “Warfair” and “I Cannot Make It” (forty seconds and one full minute, respectively), plus the latter features nice guitar work by Mark “Lupe” Hamilton.

Robert Jamison and Victory are on the right track with their mission and their zeal, and they’ve already taken hold of opportunities to share their music with radio markets in Chicago and Dallas.  I’m looking forward to the choir’s growth as they persist in developing their gifts and talents.

Favorite
“I Cannot Make It”

Fever Meter
WARM (2 of 5 Stars)

“Thank You” – Roy and Revelation

“Thank You”
Roy and Revelation
From the CD, Thank You (2012)
www.royandrevelation.com   

Stanley Roy Ladson, Jr. isn’t 30 years old yet, but listening to his group’s tune, “Thank You,” will make you think you just popped a quarter in a late 1950’s Jukebox.

The rock and roll/R&B drenched number is the gospel drive that’s getting Roy and Revelation’s debut recording lots of attention.  The rising South Carolina group recently signed with 4Winds/Malaco and is excited to present its brand of music to the next generation of quartet lovers.

Gospel singer Cissy Houston speaks on daughter Whitney

For the first time since Whitney Houston’s death, Cissy Houston sat down with My9 TV’s Brenda Blackmon at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark to reflect on her superstar daughter’s life.  You can watch the exclusive interview below.

Related Story

Gospel community reacts to the death of international superstar Whitney Houston

My Purpose – Genita Pugh

Genita Pugh
My Purpose
Eternity Records (2011)
www.genitapugh.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

You won’t hear any vocal acrobatics on Genita Pugh’s current CD.  What you will hear, though, is the heart of a pastor with a passion for her purpose: worship.  My Purpose is a most fitting title for the no-frills alto vocalist’s current project.

The set opens with “Can’t Live,” borrowed from R. Kelly’s “Can’t Sleep.”  From there, “Open My Eyes,” “You Were There for Me,” and “In the Presence of the Lord” deliver a pleasant listening and worship experience.  “Who Can?” does the same, albeit with an uptempo head-bobbing bounce.

Pugh doesn’t neglect her roots, though.  The founder and pastor of Original Worship Ministry has old-fashioned church Mississippi-style with her self-penned toe-tapper “All the Ways of You” and the mid-tempo “Die to Myself.”  Even with this pair of tunes, Pugh stays in her lane–avoiding feverish riffs and vocal cartwheels–supporting the adage that less is sometimes more.  She does give some oomph to the urbanesque “Do You Love the Lord?” an upbeat track accented with beastly slap bass and mean horn swells.

Produced by James Roberson (JDI Music), this project melds nice selections, good writers and musicians, and a singer who is grateful to know her purpose.

Favorites
“Can’t Live” – “Open My Eyes” – “In the Presence of the Lord”

Fever Meter
SIMMERIN’ (3 of 5 Stars)

"Hello God" – Eunice Wright

“Hello God”
Eunice Wright
From the upcoming CD, Worth It All (Available April 10, 2012)
www.eunicewright.com

Eunice Wright’s contemporary christian flavored “Hello God” is a refreshing way to invite the Father to take center stage in your life.

“Make Yourself comfortable,” Wright bids, “for Your presence just made my day.”

The worship single is being greeted warmly on radio and is featured on the award-winning psalmist’s forthcoming CD, Worth It All.

Though still rather new to the industry, Wright is not new to singing or ministry.  Her first release, Wait On Me, earned her three awards and thirteen other award nominations including Stellar, the Rhythm of Gospel, and South Florida Gospel Music Awards recognition. 

“Hello God” is presently available for download free on the official Eunice Wright website: www.eunicewright.com.

"A Story to Tell" – North Carolina Community Choir

“A Story to Tell”
North Carolina Community Choir feat. Darrell Luster
4Winds/Malaco Music Group (2012) 
www.malaco.com 

Originally posted March 20, 2012 at 7:58AM
Last Updated March 21, 2012 at 11:52AM

Darrell Luster takes the lead on North Carolina Community Choir’s new single “A Story to Tell.”

“What’s that behind that smile on your face?” the choir inquires over the unhurried horn-laced musical backdrop. “What kind of pain are you trying to erase?  How do you hide it–hide it so well?”

“I’ll bet you’ve got a story,” Luster interposes.  The choir returns, “A story to tell!” 

The choir was originally formed in 2008, under the direction of Ray Braswell, Jr. and James Bellamy in Rocky Mount, from the vision of Dr. Thomas L. Walker (known for his circa 1980 gospel gold album One Day at a Time).  At that time, the aggregation was called The Promise Choir.  Sometime later, the choir was revamped and renamed with Luster, Braswell, and songwriter Brian Foster at the helm.

The choir has performed on Bobby Jones Gospel, and has sung on projects by The Sensational Nightingales (Live in Rocky Mount), Darrell Luster & F.C. Barnes (“He Won’t Change”), and Lil’ Blair & The Fantastic Heirs.

“A Story to Tell” is a compelling preface to the North Carolina Community Choir’s upcoming CD memoir.