Category: Reviews

"I Love to Praise Him" – Mississippi Mass Choir

“I Love to Praise Him”
Mississippi Mass Choir
From the CD, Then Sings My Soul (2011)
http://www.mississippimass.com

Mississippi Mass Choir and Mosie “Mama” Burks don’t believe in messing up a good thing.  The choir’s popular silver-haired lead vocalist has become known for putting her spin on hit songs of yesteryear written by the likes of Dorothy Love Coates (“Holding On” and “They Got the Word [City Built Foursquare]”), Inez Andrews (“I’m Not Tired Yet”), and others.  Rev. Milton Biggham’s arrangement of the late Rev. Jessy Dixon’s “I Love to Praise His Name” is about as appropriate as any to continue the trend.

This hand-clapper adheres to the pattern of Mama Burks’ other high-speed classics: a big brass section, a rocking choir, and a spirited frontwoman with vigor and vibrato.

“Rejoicing in Heaven” – Operation Faith feat. Rev. Harold Johnson

“Rejoicing in Heaven”
Operation Faith featuring Rev. Harold Johnson (2011)
Available on CD Baby

Scripture (Luke 15:10 KJV) says, “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

Rev. Harold Johnson makes vivid the emotion of this passage in his uptempo single, “Rejoicing in Heaven.”  He is featured with Operation Faith, described as a “Christian/Gospel Music Experience that features various vocal artists, composed, produced and arranged by David Crawford.”

Johnson, a former member of the Motown group Devastating Affair, recreates the 1970’s Memphis soul sound, combining what some would call a couple of essential elements: an Al Green-esque vocal and spicy organ riffs.  His testimony is,  “Jesus claimed the deed to my life and laid His spirit on me,” which is definitely a cause for rejoicing in Heaven as well as on earth!

Sizzlin’ This Week (9/19/11) – “Yet Love”

“Yet Love”
Luther Barnes & the Sunset Jubilaires
Atlanta International Records (2011)
www.malaco.com

Luther Barnes is recognized as much for his easy-listening ballads as for his driving quartet tunes and churchy choir numbers.

“Yet Love,” his new single with the Sunset Jubilaires, is soon to be another hallmark of the Barnes repertoire. Its message is one of overcoming life’s hurts and disappointments and choosing the spiritually mature path of love and forgiveness.

Over a warm electric piano–later accentuated with finger-snapping percussion, electric bass, and a full drum kit–Barnes croons beautifully crafted lyrics, recounting emotional journeys to which most relate–brokenness, abandonment, and loneliness.

“But the Word of God in you stood strong,” the Sunset Jubilaires declare. “You’ve learned how to yet love!”

Sizzlin’ This Week (9/12/11) – “Jesus”

“Jesus”
Le’Andria Johnson
From the CD, The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson (2011)
http://musicworldent.com

If there is any doubt about why Le’Andria Johnson was a hit on season three of Sunday Best, it will vanish once you hear the slow, intensely soulful and passionate “Jesus” from her new project, The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson.

Having penned the song–by singing it into her phone in an airport, it’s obvious that Johnson knows about calling Jesus from a dark, gut-wrenching place. Since winning last season’s show, she was faced with the passing of her brother; she also confronted a bout with alcohol that began with occasional wine drinking. There’s no mistaking that this song’s lyrics (“…I needed to break out and get freedom/One bad decision after the next, just getting by…”) are a part of her testimony.

Johnson calls Jesus like she’s desperate for rescue, and throughout she unashamedly points listeners to the One who lifts from sin and shame: “Jesus–call Him like you want Him, call Him like you need Him!”

Sizzlin’ This Week (9/5/11) – “How Many Will Be Remembered?”

“How Many Will Be Remembered?”
Shirley Caesar
From the DVD, After 40 Years: Still Sweeping Through the City (2007)
Light Records/Shubel

Originally released in the 1970’s on vinyl, “How Many Will Be Remembered?” is dually a salute and a poignant reminder of all the unheralded heroes and heroines who have made sacrifices for the good of mankind.

The song’s lyrics prove to be both timeless and timely.  “How Many Will Be Remembered?” tops my personal video playlist for this week as we celebrate the recent Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial dedication, and as we commemorate the tragedies of September 11, 2001.

You can watch Pastor Caesar’s performance of the song here.

Sizzlin’ This Week (8/29/11) – “I Smile”

“I Smile”
Kirk Franklin
From the CD, Hello Fear (2011)
www.kirkfranklin.com

If there’s one thing I celebrate about Kirk Franklin, it’s the consistent quality of his music.  Some say that his material hasn’t been all that great since his days with The Family; I’m not sure what specific contrasts his critics are making.

I am sure, however, that each of Kirk’s albums gives me a greater appreciation for the clarity of his messages about Jesus through relevant themes, relatable lyrics, and a radio-worthy musical soundtrack.

Who can’t use an encouraging word these days? This is why “I Smile” is my pick this week.  It’s awfully hard not to feel better–and “look so much better”–when you smile.

Sizzlin' This Week (8/22/11) – "Turnin' Things Around"

“Turnin’ Things Around”
George, Jr.
From the CD, The Signature of “G”
www.trueideasmusicentertainment.com

George Dickens, Jr. is the Stellar Award-winning songwriter behind Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson’s hit song “I Made It,” from his 2006 Just Being Me album (also featured on WOW Gospel 2007).  The Oak City, NC native is also a frontman and songwriter in his father’s group, George Dickens and the Gospel Disciples.

His recent effort is a solo project, The Signature of “G” which features “Turnin’ Things Around.”  An uplifting mid-tempo tune from start to finish, Dickens testifies of God’s provision and protection before cruising into a vamp that deposits in the spirits of all who’ll believe: “He’s turnin’ things around,” “He’s workin’ it out,” and “I can feel it!”

With Dickens’ Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson-esque lead, tight background vocals, and a laid-back yet forward-moving music arrangement laced with a sweet rhythm guitar, “Turnin’ Things Around” is my pick this week!

Sizzlin’ This Week (8/15/11) – “Work It Out”

“Work It Out”
Evelyn Turrentine-Agee
From the CD, There’s Gonna Be A Meeting (2010)
www.shanachie.com

She’s called the “Queen of Quartet.”  There’s a good reason for that–actually there are several.  Her smash hit “God Did It” is just one.  Her current foot-stomper “Work It Out” is another.

Turrentine-Agee just knows what to do with a quartet groove.  You won’t catch her over-singing and you won’t find her doling out random phrases just to fill up a run and shout an audience.  She doesn’t utilize showy stage antics.  She just ministers with conviction, out of her own experiences with her personal testimonies: “My children needed shoes/My home was in a mess/God worked for me…”

“Work It Out” is everything quartet: hand claps, toe taps, a rhythmic lead guitar (Alton Hollis), call and response, and a run that will move the hatted church mothers into the aisles in a holy dance.

Sizzlin' This Week (8/8/11) – "Jesus Is Love"

My pick this week differs from the usual in that it has not yet been recorded.  Well, actually, Lionel Richie’s “Jesus Is Love” has been recorded, first by his own funk/soul group The Commodores in 1980, and later by several other artists both secular and gospel, including Melvin Williams and Smokie Norful & Heather Headlley.  Richie himself also performed it at the memorial service of his friend Michael Jackson.

My pick, however, is the one performed by none other than “Mama” Sue Roseberry last night on BET’s Sunday Best.  Honestly, the song has never been one of my favorites.  I know.  I’m probably the only one who thinks “Jesus Is Love” is an okay tune, but nothing extra.

Until last night.

Roseberry’s styling and ad libs were nothing short of brilliant, as she embarked upon making it more “wedding-y” (her word) to keep with the show’s “I Do” theme week.  It was enough to stir Donnie McClurkin–and not exactly in the Holy Ghost, either.  In fact, I wrote to BET.  Well, it was really a status update on my Facebook wall:

Dear BET Sunday Best: Mama Sue needs to record that NOW!!!  I don’t even like that song, but her version should become the definitive!

I’m telling you, Fever readers, Mama Sue’s cover of “Jesus Is Love” is a hit waiting to happen.

Sizzlin’ This Week (8/1/11) – “I Got A Friend”

“I Got A Friend”
The New Pearly Gates
From the upcoming CD, Through It All (2011)

The New Pearly Gates of Suffolk, VA are gearing up for the release of a brand new CD.  In the meantime, I’m listening to the single, “I Got A Friend,” and I dig it.

There’s nothing fancy about it, and that’s a good thing.  Sometimes less is more. “I Got A Friend” has a simple hook, easy-to-learn verses and a pretty basic chord structure.  It’s an uptempo declaration of the unfailing devotion of Jesus, and we all can testify to that!