Tag: Reviews

Fill This House – Shirley Caesar

Shirley Caesar
Fill This House (2016)
eOne Music 
www.shirleycaesar.com
 
By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever
 
Fill This House is Pastor Shirley Caesar’s most refreshing body of musical work in recent years.  Many who bought the project, helping it debut at number one on the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart, will probably agree.
 
The album kicks off with the immediately infectious “It’s Alright, It’s OK,” featuring soulful R&B singer and fellow North Carolinian, Anthony Hamilton.  Following the opening track, she takes us straight to church with the testimony-charged “He Won’t Fail You,” praise-break inducing “Survive This” with Bishop Hezekiah Walker, and worshipful title song “Fill This House.”
 
Although head-bobbing comes standard with “Need Him Now,” the traditional-contemporary groove is the backdrop for sobering social commentary:

Look at all of the trouble today–war and killing flooding the land
You know it’s time to pray
No prayer in the schoolhouse, and wrong is right in the White House
We need Him right away…

During the last ten seconds, crank up the volume and check out some of Pastor Caesar’s wordless improvisational sweetness.
 
Having recorded more “mama” songs than perhaps any other gospel recording artist, it is entirely appropriate that Fill This House also features a matriarchal ode of sorts—this one to the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church, site of the devastating Charleston church massacre.  “Mother Emanuel,” penned by Chip Davis and Dony and Reba Rambo-McGuire, is the poignant, moving standout of the project, elevated in emotion when President Obama begins to read the names of the victims. 
 
“Prayer Works,” written by V. Mike McKay, brings Fill This House to a high energy, inspirational end and solidifies the project’s place among the great releases of 2016. 

The saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  There is certainly nothing broken or in need of a fix when it comes to the music of Pastor Caesar and the writing and production of her longtime music director, Michael Mathis.  Still, their collaborations with this project’s host of creative writers, producers, musicians, and background singers has reinvigorated the Caesar sound and brought out the best in one of the best to ever sing or preach a gospel message. 

I have never made such a bold prediction and do not know what the rest of the year holds for highly anticipated music releases, but I believe Fill This House may net the reigning queen of gospel Grammy number twelve. 

Favorites
“It’s Alright, It’s OK” – “Need Him Now”

Fever Meter
SWELTERIN’ (5 of 5 Stars)
 

John Thorpe and Truth, Chosen Live DVD Recording Recap

John Thorpe and Truth
John Thorpe and Truth | Photo Credit: Libra Boyd

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

A modest crowd of roughly 250 traditional gospel enthusiasts gathered at Roxboro’s Kirby Theater Saturday night (July 16) for the live DVD recordings of John Thorpe and Truth of Rougemont, NC, and Chosen of Wilkesboro, NC.  Radio announcer David Ramsey and Bishop D.T. “Dynamite” Johnson served as emcees for the evening.

The one-hour late start caused restlessness among some in the audience, but they appeared to be instantly refreshed by the live music performances of area artists Chozen Phaze II and saxophonist James Brown, who opened the concert.

Once John Thorpe and Truth took to the stage—about 55 minutes after the late start—they wasted no time moving through the first of two five-song sets, beginning with “I Don’t Mind,” followed by the bluesy “Child of God.”  Both numbers are from an album recorded with his siblings, John Thorpe and Family Live with Dr. Bobby Jones, and are fan favorites. Still, it was the perennial hymn “Old Rugged Cross” that shifted the somewhat constrained atmosphere into extended worship.  Thorpe brought out his son Jonathan (of James Hall & Worship and Praise) to share the lead.  Jonathan’s velvet tenor was a stark contrast to his dad’s gritty baritone, but the duet was nonetheless palatable.  The worship that ensued cued a reprise before the group finished out its opening set with downhome hand-clapper, “Do What the Lord Say Do.”

Chosen
Chosen | Photo Credit: Libra Boyd

While John Thorpe and Truth recessed for a wardrobe change, Chosen began its 10-song set, which included a mix of original tunes and covers of “What He’s Done for Me” (Lisa Knowles and The Brown Singers), “Thank You” (Tim Rogers and The Fellas), “Meet Me at the Gate” (B.T. Green and the Christian Harmonettes), and “Old Landmark” (Tammy Edwards and the Edwards Sisters).  An unhurried song of assurance, “Jesus is Standing There,” especially resonated with the intimate crowd:

You feel all alone sometimes, and you don’t know what to do, but still
Jesus is standing there
I’ve got friends, they’ll turn and walk away from you, but still when they walk away
Jesus is standing there
Call Him in the morning
Call Him late at night
Oh Jesus is standing there

The song’s lead singer Marshall Parks shared with the audience afterwards, “A whole lot of folks sing songs that sound good; but I want to sing a song that says something.”  When the lead mic was passed to Quinda Parks, she emphasized that Chosen came to have church.  I was convinced.  Their sermonettes, testimonies, praise break, and the atmosphere of an old-fashion revival as they neared the end of their set were proof positive.

As the night drew to a close, John Thorpe and Truth returned to complete the final set, opening with the lively title track from their current CD, “Stay with Jesus” and ending with “Thank You,” reminiscent of soul singer Eddie Floyd’s “Knock on Wood.”

Both group’s recordings will be released as individual “live” CD and DVD projects in association with Light of Day Productions, LLC.  To pre-order, visit the artists’ websites at www.johnthorpeandtruth.com and www.chosen-ministries.com.

"I'm A Winner" – Tonya Lewis-Taylor

Tonya Lewis-Taylor "I'm A Winner" art work“I’m A Winner”
Tonya Lewis-Taylor
From the upcoming EP, I’ve Got to Win (2016)
www.tonyalewistaylor.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

“I’m A Winner” is the uptempo inspirational debut single from Tonya Lewis-Taylor’s forthcoming EP, I’ve Got to Win.

Abundant with self-affirmations, Tonya (pronounced Tone-yah) makes one declaration after another, echoed by her background vocalists:

“I can do all things through Christ…”
“I can be whatever He wants me to be…”
“I can have whatever He wants me to have…”
“I’m the head and not the tail…”

Tonya wrote and co-produced “I’m A Winner” with Martin Christie and her husband J.P. Taylor.

"All Day Long" – The Rance Allen Group

All Day Long art work The Rance Allen Group“All Day Long”
The Rance Allen Group (2016)
www.tyscot.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

“Is there anybody out there who could literally sing God’s praises all day long?”  Bishop Rance Allen asks the lively San Francisco audience.  The crowd’s response is a resounding “Yes!”  What follows is “All Day Long,” a CCM styled worship tune stamped with the signature sound of the multi-Stellar Award winning Rance Allen Group.

“All Day Long,” written by Brittney Byrd Campbell, Chris Byrd, and Rance Allen, is the first single from the Rance Allen Group’s forthcoming album, Live from San Francisco.

"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.