Category: Reviews

"Angels" – Judea feat. The Loving Sisters

“Angels”
Judea feat. The Loving Sisters
From the upcoming CD, Trumpets (Available Summer 2016)
MG Music Group

Angels art work Judea ft. The Loving Sisters

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Acts of violence, terrorism, and evil appear daily in news headlines around the world.  It’s a savage reality that Christian rapper Judea chooses to address in his self-penned single “Angels,” featuring The Loving Sisters.

Arpeggiated strings punctuate Judea’s lyrical imagery as he speaks of these atrocities and laments, “Dear Lord, if you hear me please save us; all these suicide killers is outrageous.  Taking innocent lives, they’re called ISIS; I guess they don’t really know who Christ is.”  Beyond the present social condition, however, he “can hear the angels singing in Heaven,” where suffering, death, and conflict are nonexistent.

Judea, aka George Pettiford, enlisted the music and production talent of Deacon Authority (aka Cedric Hester) and the supporting vocals of his biological siblings, female quartet group The Loving Sisters of Roxboro, NC.

"Oh How We Love YOU" – TIFF JOY

“Oh How We Love YOU”
TIFF JOY
From the CD, TIFF JOY (2015)
Walkway Music Group/Tyscot Records


Tiff Joy Oh How We Love You art workBy Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

“Oh How We Love YOU” is the current radio single from TIFF JOY, the Stellar Award-winning singer/songwriter who wrote and performed the hit “Amazing” with Ricky Dillard and New G.

TIFF JOY opens the exultant praise from her self-titled album with an invitation to “put’cho hands together” before directing lyrics of adoration to the Lord.  The beginning lines of which are, “Glory to God in the highest / You are great and greatly (You are greatly to be praised)…”
“Oh How We Love YOU” is co-written by TIFF JOY, Phillip Feaster, Angel Feaster, and Calvin Rodgers.  GMF featured the official lyric video here: Official Lyric Video – “Oh How We Love YOU” – TIFF JOY

"Let Him Work on You" – Arthur Roland

“Let Him Work on You”
Arthur Roland
From the CD, Stepping Out of Myself (2015)
Nosmoke Records

Arthur Roland Stepping out of myself cover artBy Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

In his self-written and self-produced toe-tapper, Arthur Roland recounts a list of frustrations common to mankind—hard times, failed plans, and bad news.  Then, he urges, “Turn ya life over to Jesus; let Him work on you!”

“Let Him Work on You” is from Roland’s CD Stepping Out of Myself, inspired by the Michael Brown incident.

In 2014, Roland, a 30-year industry veteran, was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as a member of Lucille Pope and the Pearly Gates.

"Author" – Latice Crawford

“Author”
Latice Crawford
From the upcoming project, Diary of a Church Girl (Available 2016)
Available at iTunes

Author - Latice Crawford - art workBy Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Hearing Latice Crawford intertwine the lyrics and melody of her current single “Author” is like reading, or listening to, an aural diary.

“Author, please write me better / Potter, mold me better,” she sings.

The fact is, intimately and steadily, Latice delivers the same impressive, impassioned vocal that landed her in the top three on BET Sunday Best 2.

“Author” is the second single from Latice’s forthcoming project, Diary of a Church Girl.

“I Shall Wear A Crown” – YaLonda Lolar-Johnson

“I Shall Wear A Crown”
YaLonda Lolar-Johnson (2015)
Available at iTunes
YaLonda Lolar-Johnson art work

By Libra Boyd 
Gospel Music Fever

She describes herself as a soprano, but YaLonda Lolar-Johnson makes effective use of her alto register with her jazzy arrangement of “I Shall Wear A Crown,” popularized by the late Thomas Whitfield.

YaLonda’s satin vocal performance is complemented by equally polished accompaniment: silken background vocals, expressive horns—which feature a sax solo, and mellow jazz organ voicings.

YaLonda is a native of Saint Paul, MN.  Her EP, Exodus, is scheduled to be released sometime this year. 

"All of Me" – Doug Williams

“All of Me”
Doug Williams
From the upcoming CD, Crossover (Available Summer 2016) 
Blackberry Records

Doug Williams All of Me art work

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever 

Doug Williams’ current single “All of Me” is a contemporary vertical worship tune—not necessarily what one might expect from one of gospel quartet’s most recognizable voices.  Doug has always been on the cutting edge, though—whether performing solo or with Melvin and Henry aka The Williams Brothers.

“All of Me,” from the singer/songwriter’s forthcoming project, Crossover, adheres mostly to the familiar CCM I-V-vi-IV progression.  Doug comfortably assumes the role of worship leader while the background singers‘ alternating unison and harmony voicings carry the worship melody.

"Silent Night" – Ex Musiq

“Silent Night”
Ex Musiq (2015)
www.facebook.com/exmusiq

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Ex Musiq’s gift to you this Christmas is a free download of “Silent Night,” available at http://vibedeck.com/3hprecords/145219.

Despite their eclectic blend of gospel, hip-hop, pop, and R&B sounds, the Baltimore area inspirational trio presents “Silent Night” in its traditional form with an unaltered melody cushioned by warm layers of strings.

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" – Charles P. Walker

“Do You Hear What I Hear?”
Charles P. Walker
From the digital EP, Do You Hear What I Hear? (2015)
www.charlespwalker.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Charles P. Walker rolls in holiday cheer with a lively instrumental performance of “Do You Hear What I Hear?”  The saxophone arrangement is the title track from his digital Christmas EP.

Walker has drawn comparisons to sax greats Grover Washington and Kirk Whalum, among others.  Still, his style bears a uniqueness that has earned him session credits with Bernard Harris and Kevin Whalum as well as shared platforms with Smokie Norful and Donnie McClurkin.

Walker is a featured artist at the bi-annual Kingdom Global World Connect Conference, the Music Boat, and K-Love Christian Cruises.

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" – Livrè

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
Livrè
From the CD, A Classic Holiday…Presented by MBK (2015)
MBK Entertainment/Sony Music Entertainment
Available at iTunes

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

For the Christmas holiday, Livrè delivers a delightfully harmonic and soulful arrangement of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”

The urban inspirational quintet’s modern a cappella rendition of the 16th century carol is featured along with the music of Alicia Keys, Tyrese, Brandy, Elle Varner, and others on the multi-genre compilation disc, A Classic Holiday…Presented by MBK.

"O Holy Night" – Kevin Riley

“O Holy Night”
Kevin Riley (2015)

By Libra Boyd

 
This season, Kevin Riley lends his distinct baritone to the sacred Christmas standard, “O Holy Night.” Jansen Goodwin’s orchestral arrangement complements Kevin’s compelling performance of the holiday classic.
 
“O Holy Night” is available at iTunes.
 
Kevin resides in Little Rock, AR, and serves as pastor of In His Presence Worship Ministries.