Jason Nelson to release sixth album, ‘Close,’ after three-year recording hiatus

Jason Nelson, best known for his No. 1 gospel ballads “Forever” and “I Am,” will emerge from a three-year recording hiatus on August 6th with the release of his sixth album, Close (Jaelyn Song Music / Tyscot / FairTrade). 

“First, it’s a studio record [his past sets have been live sessions],” Nelson explains. “Secondly, I delve into music that helped to nurture my sound as a singer. It pays homage to Dawkins & Dawkins, Fred Hammond, Commissioned. The first album I ever purchased was by Jaco Pastorious (a legendary bassist known for his work with jazz fusion band, Weather Report). All of them played a major role in my musical journey.”   

With hints of Jazz, R&B, and Pop flavors, Nelson is flexing new musical muscles on Close. Joining him for this sonic workout are luminaries such as R&B singer, Chrisette Michele; jazz bassist, John Patitucci; and Cross Worship leader, Osby Berry. Although the set breaks new musical ground for Nelson, it’s still an album that solidly delivers the heartfelt, Jesus-centered songs of faith that Nelson’s core fans have come to love. The first radio single, “Residue,” has already racked a million streams and charted in the Top 20 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart.

The twelve-track set is also the first fruit of Nelson’s Jaelyn Song imprint’s new marketing and distribution partnership with Tyscot Records and FairTrade Services. “I love the freedom of being able to curate my career and make decisions that I feel are the best for me,” Nelson says after a nearly decade-long recording relationship with RCA Inspirational. 

A Baltimore, Maryland native, Nelson has been active on the national stage since 2005. Over the years, he’s enjoyed a string of gospel radio hits such as “Shifting the Atmosphere,” “Nothing Without You,” “I Am,” and “Forever” that have earned him over 100 million digital streams. He is also pastor of The Tab (formerly The Tabernacle at Greater Bethlehem Temple) in Windsor Mills, MD. He and his wife, Tonya, have two children, Jaelyn Paris and Jason Christopher.

Jonathan, Jason Nelson and family present ’13 Full Nelson Worship and Word Summit

The Nelson Family
Stellar Award winning recording artist, Jonathan Nelson, who recently
topped Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart with his latest CD Strong
Finish,
and his twin brother, Bishop Jason Nelson (currently rising on
the charts with “Nothing Without You”), are partnering once again with
their siblings to present the second annual Full Nelson Worship and Word
Summit taking place September 19-21, 2013, at the CFSMM Worship Center in the Baltimore, MD area.
 
“It
is our vision to come together to impact God’s people with key tools
for successful ministry as well as empowering a new generation to
establish Kingdom principles and best practices in the 21st century,”
the Nelson family says in a unified mission statement. The family
is bringing together an astounding array of today’s top psalmists,
intercessors, facilitators and speakers for this unique gathering.
 
Last
year’s summit was a rousing success and this year’s event promises to
be just as memorable and life changing.  The opening night speaker is
Bishop Marvin L. Winans. Each morning begins with a prayer session
facilitated by Pastor T. Renea Glenn of the Life Center in Greenville,
SC. There are daytime sessions with Dr. Carolyn Showell, musician Mike
Clemons (Israel Houghton & New Breed) and Pastor Hart

Click to enlarge

Ramsey. The
night services open with praise and worship led by Sha Simpson. There’s
special music by Grammy Award nominee Vashawn Mitchell, Kierra Sheard
and Kirk Franklin protégées The Walls Group. Bishop John Francis is also
an evening speaker.

 
Joining the Nelsons in coordinating this
year’s event are their brothers Bishop James Nelson (Pastor of Destiny
Christian Church in Baltimore) and Pastor Anthony L. Trufant (Emmanuel
Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY); their sister Janice Nelson Briley
(Co-Pastor of New Harvest Ministries in Baltimore, MD); and their cousin
Floyd E. Nelson II (Kingdom Harvest Ministries in Landover, MD).

 
The summit takes place at the CFSMM Worship Center, 701 Cherry Hill Road, Baltimore, MD 21225. Obtain registration information by calling (443) 468-7167 or emailing [email protected].  You can also visit the website at www.fullnelsonsummit.com.

Message of Stephen Hurd’s new CD: Worship is for men, too

Press Release from Bill Carpenter

Over the last decade, Stephen Hurd has distinguished himself as one of the leading voices in urban praise and worship music and his songs “Undignified” and “Lead Me To The Rock” are sung at faith gatherings around the globe. Now, he’s preparing to release his most ambitious project yet, O That Men Would Worship, his sixth CD and the first on his own Hurd The Word recording label.  He has designed the new CD as a tool to inspire men to take on a greater leadership role in church worship services.

Recorded live at The First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro, MD, where Hurd is the Minister of Music, the collection is scheduled to hit retail stores on March 20, via a distribution deal with Central South Distribution, Inc.

“My goal is to get men and especially men of color to realize that worship is not a feminine sport,” Hurd says. “In this season, I feel we should come together and lift up a sound that has the power to change families and strengthen communities and help brothers to get a glimpse of what real worship is. I think when men see other men worship it gives them freedom to worship without feeling emasculated.”

Joining Hurd for this manly worship experience are Verity Records artist Jason Nelson, Christian pop artist Anthony Evans and Minister Deonte Gray who is a member of the 7 Sons of Soul vocal group. Hurd created an all male sextet of singers to back certain songs and a coed group called Extol to back the CD as a whole. Aside from co-writing most of the songs, Hurd produced the fifteen track set alongside up-and-coming producers Kenny Shelton and Anthony Brown. Celebrated producer Steve Ford, who’s worked with acts ranging from Phyllis Hyman to Richard Smallwood, created the lush string arrangements while the in-demand Phil Lassiter (John P. Kee, Marvin Sapp) delivered the hearty horn arrangements.

“It was the easiest thing I’ve ever done,” Hurd says of the recording. “There was no drama. Everybody was excited to be there and came with the attitude of what can I do to make this impact?”

A praise party mini-concert to celebrate the new CD is set for Tuesday, March 20, at 7:30 PM, at First Baptist Church of Glenarden.  There is no admission and CDs will be available for purchase. The church is located at 600 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774. Visit www.hurdthewordmusic.com for more information on Hurd.