Tag: Christmas

"Good News" – Deborah Brown

“Good News”
Deborah Brown (2014)
Purpose Driven Records

No doubt about it, good news is welcomed amid the chaotic nature of daily encounters, and Atlanta’s Deborah Brown delivers with her upbeat rhythmic single “Good News.”

‘Tis a contemporary gospel bounce that’s dominated by a repeated electric piano chord progression and syncopated horns. The “good news” that Deborah (bearing a smidge of tonal resemblance to Twinkie Clark) sings about throughout the tune turns out to be all the joys that accompany the birth of Christ: “Peace on earth / goodwill towards men / a child is born / a son is given / government on His shoulders…” These proclamations translate into the song’s head-bobbing vamp.

Deborah, along with her husband Dr. Jerry Brown (founder and CEO of Purpose Driven Records), was recently featured on The Don Frost Music City Gospel Show.

"Merry Christmas" [Free Music] – Norris J

“Merry Christmas”
Norris J feat. Taushey Sias (2014)
Indie
www.norrisj.com

Norris J drops an inspirational rhyme on the meaning of the holiday season in his light and lively rhythmic tune “Merry Christmas,” featuring soprano Taushey Sias. You can download it free here: Christmas Single 2014

The Fort Worth native is a hip-hop artist and songwriter with a passion to connect with the young generation through his music.  He recently teamed up with BET Sunday Best 4 finalist Andrea Helms on her current single “Clap Your Hands.” 

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.

“Noel Noel” – Quebec Celebration Gospel Choir (Video)

"What A Holiday" – Maurice Griffin

“What A Holiday”
Maurice Griffin
From CD, My Holiday (2013)
MGM Chicago Music Group
http://mauricegriffinonline.com

There’s nothing like a feel-good song to get you in the spirit of Christmas, and Maurice Griffin taps into the Memphis soul sound (think Al Green) to do just that.

Griffin’s melismas in “What A Holiday” meet up with a slapping bass and brilliant horns to bring you the same infectious energy that he transmitted to BET Sunday Best 2 viewers when he was a finalist.

The full-length Christmas project, My Holiday, is available at iTunes.

"Noel" – Daphney Hilton

“Noel”
Daphney Hilton (2013)
Available at http://daphneyhilton.bandcamp.com

Daphney Hilton creates holiday nostalgia with her rendition of “Noel,” fashioned from the traditional carol, “The First Noel.”

Hilton’s “Noel” is a cozy jazz/soul remake of the Christmas hymn, textured with her sultry alto and melodic background repetitions of “Noel, Noel, He is the king of Israel.”

The single is also featured on the project, Silverwood Holiday Music, Vol. 1.

Enjoy Mario Brown’s remake of the Donny Hathaway classic “This Christmas”

Boston, MA (December 20, 2012) – Gospel newcomer Mario Brown has recorded one of the all-time Christmas favorites, “This Christmas,” and is making it available to all.
Mario says 2012 “has been a great year. My album [The Mario Brown Project] has been released and I am surrounded by family and friends.”
“God has truly blessed me,” Mario reflects. “My gift to the community comes in song. ‘This Christmas’ has always been special to me so I give everyone the gift of my version of the classic.”
The singer, songwriter, and musician is signed with Bronx Bridge Entertainment, Inc. and F. Hammond Music.
Enjoy!
Related Story
“Glory” – Mario Brown

Churchy Christmas/Joy to the World – Beverly Crawford & JDI Christmas

Beverly Crawford and JDI Christmas
Churchy Christmas / Joy to the World
JDI Records (2012)
 
By Libra Boyd
 

You need not hear anything beyond this CD’s opening track to understand exactly why it’s called Churchy Christmas.

If your spirits need uplift this holiday season, Beverly Crawford and her labelmates at JDI Records have just what you need. Crawford herself kicks off Churchy Christmas with “Joy to the World,” a traditional Christmas carol recorded live in Dallas that she transforms into a high energy fire-starter. She’s backed by the 200-voice Antioch Fellowship Voices of Praise. (GMF recently shared the official video.)  The scorcher is followed by Shanika Bereal’s “Precious Lamb of God” and Gary Mayes and Nu Era’s “Don’t 4get the Baby,” featuring the sensational Nakitta Clegg Foxx (of the Kurt Carr Singers).  Both selections stand out beautifully for tenderly rendered vocals.

But it’s not just the ladies who deliver on this project.  Professor James Roberson ministers a flawless interpretation of the BeBe Winans ballad “I Wanna Be More,” and Patrick Lundy and The Ministers of Music sprinkle in some Yuletide funk with the bouncy “Emmanuel” (written by Cedric Thompson).  Earnest Pugh comes along and serenades the Savior on the jazzy “Hosanna” (which hints ever so slightly to Kool & the Gang’s “Joanna”), elevating the chorus after announcing, “I feel a key change in the house right here!” There’s still room for one more drive though, and that belongs to Chester D.T. Baldwin on “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” backed by a jubilant choir and band as he takes us on modulation after modulation.
 
Genita Pugh (“Holy to the Lamb”) and saxophonist Donald Hayes (“What Child Is This”) round out Churchy Christmas, making this CD one of the nicest and churchiest I’ve heard this season.
 
Favorites
“Joy to the World” – “Don’t 4get the Baby” – “Holy to the Lamb”

Fever Meter
SMOKIN’ (4 of 5 Stars)

Official Video – “Joy to the World” – Beverly Crawford

 
Here it is hot off the press: the official video of Beverly Crawford’s “Joy to the World,” which is featured on the holiday CD, Beverly Crawford and JDI Christmas: Churchy Christmas / Joy to the World.
 

“Children Go Where I Send Thee” – Yolanda Rabun

“Children Go Where I Send Thee”
Yolanda Rabun
From the CD, Christmastime (2012) 
Yolanda Rabun could turn a jazz club into a makeshift sanctuary with her rendition of “Children Go Where I Send Thee.”  In fact, Rabun would do that. The tune is from the contralto smooth/soul jazz vocalist’s sophomore CD Christmastime, which features soul, R&B, gospel, folk, and smooth and traditional jazz holiday music; but in actuality, “Children Go Where I Send Thee” sounds as if it’s being enjoyed on scratched vinyl.
 
As the pianist and bassist comp, Rabun briskly recounts the “fo’ for the fo’ that was knockin’ at my do’ / Three for the three wise men….”  Her diction reflects the vernacular of the peoples who likely first sang the negro spiritual.  With the percussionist keeping time with brushes, she trots on: “One for the little bitty baby / Wrapped in swaddlin’ clothin’ / Lying in a manger / B-o-o-o-r-n, Born oh, born in Bethlehem.” 
 
Rabun has worked with Isaac Hayes, Jennifer Holliday, and is opening later this month for the Isley Brothers at the Durham (NC) Performing Arts Center.