Category: Reviews

It’s Christmas [Free Music] – Jason Nicholson-Porter

Jason Nicholson-Porter
It’s Christmas [Digital EP]
Indie (2014)
 
Jason Nicholson-Porter’s gift to you this season is a free download of his current EP, It’s Christmas. The download is available by clicking here.
 
The mellow title track is equal parts soulful, jazzy, and festive, balanced by the smooth texture of Jason’s flawless vocals and impressive range. Jason also performs the timeless classic “Noel Noel.” Strings and lush background vocals give his arrangement of the traditional carol its beautifully worshipful ambience. 
 
Jason is a singer and songwriter who hails from Jamaica and presently resides in the UK.  He has sung professionally since the age of 14.

"Because of You" – Damon Little

“Because of You”
Damon Little (2014)
www.damonlittle.com

Damon Little - Because of You art workDamon Little is known for the hit songs “You Can’t Straddle the Fence,” “Do Right,” and “Make A Way,” but perhaps his most personal musical offering thus far is the urban praise ballad “Because of You.”

Little has a testimony—a portion of which he shares at the start of his self-penned tune. Just over a year ago, the gospel community rallied around him with prayers and support when they got the news that he would need emergency heart surgery.  Though the surgery can now be described as a success, Little underwent several challenges and setbacks, including a brief period during which he says his body rejected his heart. Now he’s healed and lyrically proclaims, “I wish they could see me today; I would tell them look at me now, see what the Lord can do.”

“Because of You,” produced by Little and co-produced by Bubby Fann, departs from the familiar quartet stylings of Little and his group Nu Beginnings and embraces choir harmonies.  The result is an arrangement that complements the toggling of narration and singing that Little does throughout his song of gratitude.

“Because of You” is available on iTunes.

"More of You" – Canton Jones ft. Darlene McCoy

“More of You”
Canton Jones ft. Darlene McCoy
From the CD, God City USA (2014)
Cajo Records

Canton Jones art work

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

In one of several collaborations from his newest release, God City USA, singer/writer/producer Canton Jones teams up with songstress and radio personality Darlene McCoy for a moderately-paced Christian hip-hop performance of “More of You.”

McCoy kicks off the track’s opening verse with a melodic declaration of adoration and submission before sharing the mic with Jones for a harmonic duet of the chorus: “Just give me all of You and none of me, Lord / Let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done.”  As the song moves forward to reverb-heavy rhythm, Jones spins a rhyme and true to his knack for marrying the lingo of the secular and sacred, he petitions the Lord, “I need more of your spirit; Lord, pour another round.”

“More of You” could be described as a loose urban adaptation of The Lord’s Prayer.

"A Lil' Louder (Clap Your Hands)" – The Rance Allen Group

“A Lil’ Louder (Clap Your Hands)”
The Rance Allen Group (2014)
Tyscot

Rance Allen Group - A Lil' Louder artwork

For much of his 40-plus year career, Rance Allen has described his brand of gospel as R&B—Rhythm and Bible. Now the Rance Allen Group has added the new single “A Lil’ Louder (Clap Your Hands)” to the list, making it nearly impossible for fans to wait for the International Gospel Music Hall of Famers’ full-length project, due out later this year. 

Blazing horns, synths, and percussive hand claps—along with Rance’s trademark growls, grunts, and falsetto—drive this feel-good groove. Dr. Leonard Scott, Tyscot Music & Entertainment founder, calls it the “modern-day ‘Miracle Worker.'”


“A Lil’ Louder (Clap Your Hands),” co-written by Rance and Floyd “Timeless” Thomas, is an invitation to praise that could’ve easily been a smash back-in-the-day collab with Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Ray Charles, The Tops, and The Miracles.  That’s the flavor of “R&B” this is, and take my word for it, you’ll be doing more than clapping your hands on this one. 

"The Holy One" – Patricia LaVerne McQueen

“The Holy One”
Patricia LaVerne McQueen
From the CD, It’s All About Love (2014)
McDuJo Gospel Music
Available at Amazon

Patricia LaVerne McQueen It's All About Love cover art

Patricia LaVerne McQueen skillfully converts Scripture to song.  It’s perhaps the primary reason she’s called “The Word Singer.” Just as engaging as her ability to craft lyrics from Scripture is the sheer artistry of her vocal delivery (reminiscent of jazz greats Nancy Wilson, Lena Horne, and Natalie Cole), which is immediately apparent in “The Holy One” from her 10-track upbeat jazzy CD, It’s All About Love. 

McQueen’s talent is honed through years of experience, including her four-year tenure as an original member of the internationally acclaimed a cappella ensemble, Sweet Honey in the Rock.  And just in case you’re wondering, she is the same Patricia (Pat Johnson, at the time) who recorded the 1972 R&B hit single “Love Brought You Here.”

The strength of “The Holy One” is the intimacy of conversation between McQueen and the listener, conveyed with McQueen’s lush jazz runs and just enough scatting to tease a jazz enthusiast.  The unblemished execution of her solo as she walks through Biblical texts that point to the deity of Jesus Christ is the perfect union of style and substance.

McQueen is presently an evangelist at Seed of Faith Ministries in California.

"Witness" – Christian Gill

“Witness”
Christian Gill (2014)
www.christiangillmusic.com

Christian Gill Witness art work

He’s been singing since he was three. Now Christian Gill is in high school, and his aspirations are clearer: he wants people to be “inspired to bless and worship God through his music.” Thankfully, we have the opportunity to do so as we listen to Christian’s current single, “Witness,” downloadable via iTunes.

With his generation in mind, Christian makes full use of synths and percussion for a head-bobbing, speaker-thumping effect as he recites John 10:10. He then jolts into multi-layered lead and self-backing vocals proclaiming, “There’s nobody that can love me like You can / Can’t nobody do the things that You can…”

Christian has racked up several honors in his young career, including Best Soloist at Disney’s Annual GospelFest and winner of Amateur Night at the Apollo “Stars of Tomorrow.”  Presently, the talented New Yorker is a praise and worship leader at his church, Greater Blessed Hope.

"The King" – Drew Chambers ft. Armar'rae Hill & True Foundation

“The King”
Drew Chambers ft. Armar’rae Hill & True Foundation (2014)
Available at iTunes

Drew Chambers "The King" art work

Nearly as fast as BET Sunday Best 7 axed him (July 20) after a pristine performance of Smokie Norful’s “I Need You Now,” Drew Chambers released a single for his already huge following (peep his Facebook page), and his newly acquired fans.

“The King,” which features Armar’rae Hill and True Foundation, is equally friendly to radio and worship team playlists.  Drew’s eclectic blend of worship and soul intensifies the reverent tune and is an impeccable complement to the vocals of Hill and his team of talented singers.

Drew is a native of Hickory, NC (of which I’m familiar, because I’m also a North Carolinian), and is definitely one to watch.  You can do just that at drewchambersonline.com.

"God's Been Good" – Carol Maraj

“God’s Been Good”
Carol Maraj (2014)
Fame Star Records/MDM Music Group
Available at iTunes

Carol Maraj has no qualms about letting the world know that God has sustained her through experiences that some others didn’t survive (see her interview with GMF here).  She is alive and has overcome because “God’s Been Good.”

Maraj’s single, “God’s Been Good,” cites healing from cancer and protection from a shooting in its verses, as testimonies of the perpetual goodness of God. The contemporary pop synth gospel tune has been creating a buzz since early this year.

Maraj currently resides in New York and heads the Carol Maraj Foundation, an advocacy organization for victims of domestic violence.

"Heartbeat" – Ethan Kent

“Heartbeat”
Ethan Kent (2014)
Tonic Blueprint LLC
Available at iTunes

Ethan Kent "Heartbeat" art work

It’s both a unique and unforgettable way to announce and celebrate the expectancy of one’s firstborn.  Ethan Kent and his wife Audrey have done so by releasing a lullaby entitled “Heartbeat.”

Penned by Ethan along with Jamall Houston, the lullaby is a passionate aural love letter from parent to child (“…before you learn to crawl or walk your own first step / I ain’t perfect, but I vow to do my very best / Know that I’ll give life more just for your heartbeat…”) with the baby’s actual heartbeat synced to the lullaby at the end.

According to Ethan’s blog, he learned of his and his wife’s pregnancy on Father’s Day, following a musical engagement in Chicago.  The mother-to-be requested that he compose a song for “the big announcement.”

“Heartbeat” is available on iTunes, and a portion of the download proceeds will go to prebornfriends.org.

Congratulations to the parents to be!

Bishop Harold Ivory Williams remembered at first of two ‘Celebration of Life’ services

The Caesar Singers sing "You Can Make It" at Friday evening's celebration of life service for Bishop Williams
The Caesar Singers sing “You Can Make It” at Friday evening’s memorial musical.

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Hundreds gathered this evening to celebrate the life of Bishop Harold Ivory Williams, Sr. at the first of two days of services for the former Presiding Prelate and Senior Bishop Emeritus of the Mount Calvary Holy Church of America (MCHCA), Inc.  Bishop Williams, who passed July 4, at age 93, was remembered as “The Patriarch, The Preacher, The Pianist.”

Among the many who gave remarks and musical tributes during the two-and-a-half hour service at Raleigh’s Mt. Calvary Word of Faith Church were Bishop Barbara Amos, Bishop George Bloomer, organist/songwriter Michael Mathis, the Caesar Singers, and the Cornerstone Church of Jesus Christ Combined Choir. 

Bishop Williams was praised for his humility, humor, leadership, scholarship, and particularly his musicianship.  In fact, many in attendance learned tonight that his middle name, Ivory, was acquired in association with a group he founded in the 1940’s, The Ivory Gospel Singers (which also had Thelma Jackson, who later sang with the Clara Ward Singers, as its member).  It happens that Mahalia Jackson was the first to refer to him by “Ivory,” causing the name–actually a fitting one, considering his gift for tickling the ivories–to remain with him.

Saturday’s national “Celebration of Life” service will begin at 11 am, at Raleigh’s Mt. Calvary Word of Faith Church, with viewing for two hours prior.  According to Bishop Kelvin Shouse, you can go to www.mchca.org for information about live streaming.