INDEPENDENT ARTIST
SPOTLIGHT
Marcy Moorman &
Ekklesia
There are two projects
that I have had for 9-12 months, waiting for the
right time to introduce them to the
“In The GreeneRoom”
family: Marcy
Morman & Ekklesia
and Darien
Dennis & Living Word.
One project was lukewarm, the other—aggressive, in
your face ministry with a fresh sound; but both were
necessary to bring to you.
·
MARCY
MORMAN & EKKLESIA
·
MY
SECRET PLACE
·
http://www.ekklesiaministry.com
·
Reviewed by Moses T. Alexander Greene
Lukewarm. A great
weakness with
My Secret Place
is that the strongest songs in terms of lyrical
content and musical composition are placed in the
middle thru the end of the CD. Every time I listened
to the project, I had the same reaction to the first
few tracks and wouldn’t push myself to other cuts
which. The second weakness is that the mixing
totally detracts from the strengths of lead and
background vocals as well as instrumentation. The
vocal arrangements are
different.
At times, it’s like, “Yeah. That’s what’s up!,” and
at other times the dissonance of the notes seem to
clash in a way that has you wincing with “What was
that?”
You Are
·
Best song
on the project
·
Worship-inducing, gentle, welcoming
·
Beautiful
musical orchestration
·
Strong,
worshipful lead vocal
·
Comes
across with a purity and authenticity that I wanted
on the entire project
Imma Whosoever
1 minute
sermonette preceding song adds nothing to the track
Innovative
sound, yet bland
Horn
arrangements by Maurice “Mo” Davis seem to
overpower background vocals
The song
(in composition) doesn’t go anywhere but has
potential
Something About You
(Show Forth Your Praises)
Nice cut
The mixing
will have you straining to hear lead vocalist
Marcy Moorman
over the music
Bless God
Poor
production quality for vocals
Music
drowns out lead and background vocals which already
come across very muted
Nice horn
accompaniment (Maurice “Mo” Davis and Courtney M.
Nero)
My Secret Place
Nice
harmonies and blend with background vocals
Again, the
mixing at times has music drowning vocals
Beautifully
composed
His Chosen
A little
pitchy with background vocals
Beautiful
song with powerful sentiment.
Great
chorus
Greatest strength of
My Secret
Place is that
each song has Scriptural references and thus,
steeped or motivated by the word of God.
Weaknesses—the mixing; and some songs just weren’t a
good blend for the vocal strengths of the group and
lead. For future projects I say, make sure that
worshipful songs are a large part of your repertoire
and work with different engineers and keep moving
forward.
To learn more about
Marcy Moorman
& Ekklesia and
buy their CD
click here
to visit their official web site.
So what do you think? If
you would like to respond to this review
click here
and sign our
Guestbook
to leave a public
or private statement, comment or reaction.
DARIEN
DENNIS & LIVING WORSHIP
A
New Place
Jordan
Entertainment Group/Koch Records
Reviewed by Moses T. Alexander Greene
I walked into
Psalms 117 Coffeehouse
(www.ps117.org)
in Silver Spring, Maryland about a year ago to
interview Izzy and a new
praise & worship group,
Darien Dennis &
Living Worship,
was in ministry. I was handed a project and saw 21
tracks on a 2 disc CD. Thoughts that immediately
came to mind were, “Why would a brand new group sing
21 tracks on their first CD,” “Shouldn’t they saved
something for a second CD.” and “Isn’t this a bit
aggressive?” Seeing the ministry that night and
listening to the CD, I have the answers.
Everything about this
project is tight, praise intensive, worship
overflowing, and unadulterated—seemingly pure. The
live presentation of the music, the horn
arrangements, the balance of the voices, and the
lead all compliment one another. There seems to be
no “track applause” or contrived moments of praise.
It’s like an unplugged album.
Favorite Songs
DISC I
Lord of All (Make
Your Presence Known)
Praise
intensive invitation for the “Lord of All” to
manifest His presence
Song of Zion
Has a bass
line and driving beat that house music phines will
love
I Can’t Live Without
You
Latin
sounding,
Smooth
beginning coupled perfectly with drive of
unbelievable hot factor: “I Just I Can’t Live
without you/ I need you/ Oh Yes I Need You”
One God
That’s
right—the song that Maurette Brown Clark that is
currently tearing up the charts was first recorded
by Darien Dennis. (Dennis will definitely be a
songwriter in demand in the near future).
DISC II
Dennis demonstrates that
he is more than a skillful songwriter but a
worshipper at heart. The second disc is so steeped
in worship that it is hard to pick a favorite; and
Darien Dennis
& Living Worship
make worship simple. You enter into the holy of
Holies because the atmosphere the group creates
allows for it. You naturally want to speak to God
for yourself without being over-exhorted,
over-commanded into doing such.
Worship Medley (Parts
I, II, and III)
are the perfect way to start your devotion time in
the morning. I could, however, have done without the
solo at the beginning of Seasons which
sounded a strained, (especially with the organ
accompaniment), but once the background vocals came
in, the song itself was powerful, the lead met the
song and the message life affirming: God is able to
change the “season” of your life in one moment.
I know the Bible says,
“There is nothing new under the sun” but
Darien Dennis & Living
Worship’s
sound and ministry is
so distinctive and pure that I want to call it
“original”. I feel the same way about
A New Place
as I did when I first heard
Charles Woolfork,
Israel Houghton & New Breed, and
Micah Stampley’s
latest CD,
“A
Fresh Wind”: I
knew I was witnessing something that would have a
long term impact on the gospel music. And regarding
my questions,
Darien Dennis & Living
Worship
represent the power of knowing God in your youth; He
is, after all, the God who makes all things
possible. So, “Why not have 21 tracks?”, “Why save
something for a second cd when life isn’t promised?”
and “What’s wrong with being aggressive and giving
your everything?”. Darien Dennis & Living Worship
this project brought me to “a new place” of
possibility within myself. I’m now a fan—objective,
but a fan of your ministry. Get this project.
So what do you think? If
you would like to respond to this article
click here
and sign our
Guestbook
to leave a public or private statement, comment or
reaction.
TAMELA
MANN
Tamela
Mann: The Live Experience (CD/DVD set)
(TillyMann Music Group)
Reviewed by: Li Alexander
When I was first asked to
review Tamela
Mann: The Live Experience
(CD/DVD set), I was a little hesitant about what I
would hear and see. As a result of her success as
Cora Jean
Simmons in
many of Tyler
Perry’s stage
productions, I was hoping and praying that neither
“Cora Jean” nor “Mr. Brown” (portrayed by Tamela’s
accomplished singer/actor husband
David Mann
also from the Perry’s productions), would make any
guest appearances. My prayers were answered! As I
popped the CD into my player and began listening, I heard nothing but pure Tamela Mann at her best!
From her days with
Kirk Franklin and
The Family and
more recently on stage, I already knew Tamela would
go beyond singing; she would crank. However, I soon
also realized that along with having an absolutely
beautiful voice, she has a heart for worship. Many
of the selections on
Tamela Mann: The Live
Experience,
Mann’s first live
CD/DVD recording, immediately pulled me in without
having to do too much. There were no driving
baselines, wailing guitars or over- synthesized
instruments. The majority of her songs were clean,
clear and uncluttered. With an array of musical
styles to choose from,
The Live Experience
is worth a trip
online or to the nearest music store to be added to
your music library.
Pros:
CD: Tamela Mann: The
Live Experience
truly proves that a great cd does not have to be
filled with super-producers; you just need quality
music. Everything from the production value and
song selection to the order of the songs seemed to
have been well thought out. Additionally, Tamela
sounds incredible and is vocally supported with the
background vocals of the Stellar Award-winning group
Myron Butler
and Levi.
Songs that will have you hitting the repeat button
include: Gotta Keep Movin’
(Larron Vaughn),
Hallelujah
(Tyler Perry/Elvin
Ross), Safety
in His Arms
(David Mann/Tamela Mann/Myron Butler) and
You Deserve My Praise
(DeMarcus Williams). DVD: Some of the things
you miss on the CD, you get during the DVD. You are
able to see glimpses of Tamela’s personality, and
the stage crew did a wonderful job on the set.
Cons: CD: During
certain portions of the CD, I felt as if some of the
elements I would normally hear on a live CD weren’t
there (audience reaction, clapping, etc). I would
have selected another final song (maybe Marvelous).
Although it’s a
Praise Medley,
I personally wanted, needed and yearned for
something else—something that wasn’t a cappella.
DVD: Even though Tamela provided great energy
during the opening selection, I believe two
background dancers would have propelled it to the
next level. The camera operators had some good
audience shots however I believe more and differing
shots were necessary.
Overall, although the
project isn’t on a major gospel record label,
Tamela Mann: The
Live Experience
is a great effort and another step forward for
Mann’s ministry of music. If you cannot find it in
your local gospel music store, request it; it’ll be
worth it.
For more information log
onto
www.tamelamann.com
THE
CLARK SISTERS
Live…One Last Time
EMI
Gospel
Reviewed by Moses T. Alexander Greene
4 words:
Hot! Hot! Hot!
Hot! Karen
Clark-Sheard, Twinkie Clark, Jacky Clark-Chisolm and
Dorinda Clark-Cole a.k.a. “The Clark Sisters”
definitely know how to leave an industry they helped
create.
At the recent
2007 GRAMMY Salute to
Gospel held in
Washington, D.C., it was the first time I was able
to interview all of them in one setting. As
significant as the moment was for me as a journalist
and a connoisseur of gospel music, the only thought
swirling around my head was, “How is it possible
that these women have been in gospel music over 30
years?” I mean, I’m just over 30 years
old myself and that would mean that as long as I’ve
been, they’ve been. After listening to the legendary
group’s latest project,
Live…One Last Time,
I promise you that you will find yourself asking the
same question.
Dorinda
Clark-Cole is shown speaking on behalf of the Clark
Sisters at the 2007 Grammy Salute to Gospel.
![DSC00004[1]](reviews_files/image030.jpg)
Look at
Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark’s face when I asked the
infamous red carpet question, “And who are you
wearing tonight?” (Photo courtesy of Craig Garrick)
Karen
Clark-Sheard lets “In The GreeneRoom: LIVE” know
that she is wearing Louis Vuitton—from head to toe.
Live…One Last Time
is 17 tracks of pure sunshine and one of the best
projects of 2007! The group gives the listener a
perfect blending of 5 new tracks—showing that its
relevance and impact for this generation is just as
strong as ever—while also revisiting its earlier
work which made “The Clark Sisters” trailblazers in
the gospel music genre. There have only been a
handful of projects that I literally loved
practically loved everything about them; but this is
one such project.
Elbernita “Twinkie”
Clark, who penned many of the group’s signature
songs that audiences have loved for three decades
(and which are showcased on “Live—One Last Time”)
is songwriting force with which to be reckoned. Get
ready to hear classics like Name It Claim It,
Tried Him And I Know Him, Pray For The
U.S.A., Jesus Is A Love Song, and You
Brought The Sunshine. New songs including the
scorching single Blessed & Highly Favored
which is quickly becoming one of the most requested
songs of the summer; Livin’ , Something
New and my personal favorite Instrument, which I hope will be the second single released.
Before its release, I was
pretty sure that the legendary Caravans were in line
to receive all duo or group awards at next year’s
Stellars, GMAs and Grammy’s—but I’m no longer sure.
With Donald Lawrence as producer and the Clark
Sisters as the instruments of praise that they are,
Live…One Last
Time is the
quintessential way to go out—on top of your game. I
know it doesn’t match what our Heavenly Father will
say to them, but, ladies, “Well done.”
For more information
visit
www.theclarksisters.com.
Leave comments in the Guestbook and you might win a
free copy of the CD or DVD.
So what do you think? If
you would like to respond to this article
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reaction.
The
McClurkin Project
“We
Praise You”
GospoCentric/ Zomba Label Group
Reviewed by Moses T. Alexander Greene
Everyone visiting
“In the GreeneRoom”
is already
familiar with the ministry and sheer vocal power of
Pastor Donnie
McClurkin,
one of gospel music’s biggest stars. On
“We Praise
You” Pastor
Donnie teams up again with sisters Cheri, Andrea,
Tanya and Olivia as
The McClurkin Project
and these
music ministers offer listeners distinctive,
family-steeped praise and worship without sounding
like cookie-cutter replicas of Pastor Donnie or each
other.
The title track
“We Praise You”
is a must-have for praise and worship teams across
the world. The soul stirring, authoritative lead
vocals of Andrea supported by the tight background
vocals and an upbeat, pop-flavored praise song
create an atmosphere of love and admiration for the
Heavenly father.
With every repetition of
Andrea’s adlib “There’s nobody like You” the souls
of Black folk (and all folks) witness the sheer
greatness of our God. With the
“Reprise”
of “We Praise You”
I immediately thought of Fred Hammond’s line “Late
in the midnight hour/God’s gonna turn it around/it’s
going to work in your favor.” That one line began
showing up in songs and adlibs all over the church
community. The same holds true for the lyrics of
“Reprise.”
If I couldn’t say a
word. If I couldn’t say a word/
If I couldn’t say a
word. If I couldn’t say a word/
I’d just wave my hand/
I’d just wave my hand/
I’d just leap for joy/
I’d just leap for joy
Because that meaning
behind these words is so impacting, I predict praise
& worship leaders all across the country will begin
using those very words into their exhortation.
“As Long As There’s
You” led by
Pastor Donnie
is sure to become a classic of the group’s
repertoire. In my years in the Church and in the
industry, I simply have never heard a song with its
sentiments. The song, reflective of warm African
harmonies and inviting rhythms, reinforces that
going to heaven is only meaningful because it will
be the place where we will meet Jesus. The musical
transition to the hymn
“When We All Get Together”
is masterful. This track was one of my favorites.
Other favorites are sure
to include:
“You’ll Be Fine”
led by Pastor Donnie, the worship-inducing
“Touch Me,”
the innovative
“In The News Today,”
and
“Song of Gratitude”
which is pure
worship. Overall,
"We Praise You"
shows that the
well of ministry runs deep in the McClurkin family
and shows no indication of drying up.
So
what do you think? If you would like to respond to
this article
click here
and
sign our
Guestbook
to
leave a public or private statement, comment or
reaction.
7 Sons
of Soul
Witness
Soul
World Entertainment/Zomba Label Group
Reviewed by Moses T. Alexander Greene
7 Sons of Soul
return to the musical landscape with their latest
release, “Witness.” 11
tracks display the group’s versatility in gospel
music and give listeners opportunity to grow with
one of the industry’s up-and-coming all-male groups.
Some songs are so marinated in classic R&B such that
you will find yourself grooving as if you were
listening to Al Green in
the 70s while a handful of others are so smothered
with that sanctified, hands clapping, foot stomping
quartet sound that you will envision the mothers of
the church shoutin’ with that one arm behind their
backs right there in your family room or office.
The average length of a
song on the project is 4:05 so to say that the
project is commercial radio friendly is an
understatement. In live ministry, these songs are
sure to fully engage the audience and be ministered
with the utmost care.
Favorites are sure to be:
The title cut
“Witness”
and
“Prayin’ 4 U”
(soulful, R&B,
grooves); “Clap Your Hands”
and “Thank
You Jesus” (a
straight quartet-flavored, get the church rocking as
the lead singers walk down the aisle); the African
American church classic—especially for old afternoon
choir anniversaries—“Trouble
In My Way” and
“One of Those Days” (an easy listening,
beautifully-composed melody which a great chorus).
“Been
Changed”
could easily be
played on the
Quiet Storm
of your local
R&B/Hip-Hop radio station. Listeners who have had to
walk away from something or someone they have loved
will find that these lyrics resonate with them.
On this project
7 Sons of Soul
offer listeners a
project diverse enough to be enjoyed by the men in
your life who enjoy a variety of gospel music, soul,
urban inspirational and classic Black church
standards. The project would be the perfect present
for the 35-55 year old father in your life (Father’s
Day is Sunday) or just for yourself.
If you would like to
respond to this review
click here
and sign our
Guestbook
to leave a public
or private statement, comment or reaction.
House of Gospel: The
80’s Volume Anthology
Light Records
Commissioned, Sandra
Crouch, Tramaine Hawkins, Daryl Coley, Vickie
Winans, the Hawkins Family, New Jersey Mass Choir,
Douglas Miller, LA Mass Choir
Reviewed by Moses T.
Alexander Greene
Get it! Get it! Get It!
This was the first thought that leaped into my mind
after I heard song number 3 and by the end of the 14
track project, I knew that my gut instincts were
right. Simply put: Light Records has put together an
anthology of Gospel music that this generation needs
to hear and others of us need to “re-hear”. Every
song brings you back to a place of
remembrance—especially if you were coming of age in
the 80s or were already of age. Because I am a bona
fide church boy/choir boy of the 70s and 80s, I
loved every minute of this CD.
Do you remember where
you were when you first heard Completely Yes by
Sandra Crouch?
I had not heard
the song in years but immediately was transported to
age 11 in the Sunshine Choir when we sang it on 1st
and 3rd Sundays. Within moments of
hearing the song in 2007, however, I was in tears;
by the end of the song, I was in worship. Who knew
at 11 what a real “yes, Lord” would take? I couldn’t
get the song off “Repeat” for 3 days! This song
messed me up because I know what I’ve gone through
since those many years ago and now its lyrics are
just so much more purposed and powerful.
Commissioned,
the group which would boast such mind-blowing talent
as Fred
Hammond, Marvin Sapp
and Keith Staten,
contributes
“Love Isn’t Love”
to the project. I didn’t grow up hearing
this song and so it was new for me. However I
definitely understood why it was included.
“Holy One”
by Tramaine
Hawkins messed me up for another three days. Before
I had ever “felt” the Holy Spirit, I would hear this
song on the radio and just start crying. About what
was a wiry adolescent crying? I can’t for the life
of me remember (LOL) but I remember being touched
inside when Tramaine sang:
Day is almost night
I don’t want to lose this
fight
I’ve fooled around much
too long
…
Give the strength I need
To be able to succeed
And I’ll heed to your
every command
And to everyone I’ll show
My purpose and my goal
In you, I will be able to
stand
Holy One I never want to
let you down
No More
The background vocals
made me want to sing background. “I’ll never let you
down, No more/Never.” What is even better is that
the 1980s Tramaine is just as powerful as 2007
Tramaine.
Other outstanding tracks
include “What
Is This” by
the Hawkins Family,
“Take Up Your Cross”
by LA Mass, “Restoration”
and
“Everything You Touch
(Is A Song)”
by The Winans,
“Glorify the Lord”
by Sandra Crouch,
“Unspeakable Joy”
by Douglas Miller and
“We Shall Behold Him”
by Vickie Winans.
This music brought me
back to the place in Gospel where contemporary
Gospel music was first budding and every artist
seemed to have their own sound versus the
cookie-cutter ministry and performances that we, at
times, hear and see today. For instance, no one has
a tenor falsetto like Bishop Hawkins; no not one, no
not one! And The Winans’
sound is still so
distinctive that no male Gospel group has been able
to have a similar impact on the landscape, unless it
was Commissioned
which is also featured on this compilation.
Light Records calls this
anthology “The Decade’s Best Loved Gospel Songs.”
Although there’s no Pastor
Shirley Caesar
on it, I’ve got to concur. (Smile). The lyrical
content, songwriting and instrumentation from these
trailblazers blended the new thing that God was
doing in them with the soul of belonging to and
growing up in and around the Church. This CD takes
you back to the place where Church felt community.
These were the songs our choirs sang marching down
the aisle at the call to worship, during the
invitation or for the “grand march” at anniversary.
While there wasn’t a genre of music called “Praise
and Worship”, many of these songs made way for a new
generation of artists because of the intimacy of
their lyrics.
Please don’t stop with
my review. Go out and get this CD. Don’t stop! Get
It! Get It!
STELLAR
AWARDS HITS 2007
Various
Artists
Light
Records
Reviewed by
Moses T. Alexander Greene
What do you get when you
pack the hottest music of Bishop Paul S. Morton,
Pastor Shirley Caesar, Youthful Praise featuring
J.J. Hairston, Martha Munizzi, Juanita Bynum, The
Williams Brothers, Lisa McClendon, and Israel & New
Breed into one CD? The Stellar Awards Hits 2007!
This project showcases 13
songs by gospel music artists who, either took home
the prestigious Stellar Award this year or were
nominated to do so. It superbly blends together
music from traditional, contemporary and praise &
worship genres of Gospel music. The music of the
late Bishop G. E. Patterson, Virtue, Ziel, and New
Direction also are included on this compilation.
My Favorites include:
“Turn
It Around” by Israel & New Breed. The lyrics,
arrangement, musicianship and live performance
liberate your spirit to dance out loud.
“Look
Where He Brought Me From”
by the late Bishop G. E. Patterson is a sanctified,
caffeine-rush of down home, foot stomping, Sunday
morning Gospel music jam. Has been on REPEAT in my
home for about a week now. The exhortation on the
end makes you wish it were more than 2:59 mins long.
Lisa
McClendon gives you the best that she has on her
neo-soul spin on “Just Another Day (That the Lord
Has Kept)”. It’s smooth, urban, funky, hot.
There are
some preachers from whom all I want to hear from
them is preaching; Prophetess Juanita Bynum is not
one of them. On I Don’t Mind Waiting, Bynum
and friends take you into the throne room. If you
have recently experienced a setback or
disappointment, this simple song is enough to
encourage your soul to wait on the Lord.
BEN TANKARD
“Let’s Get Quiet: The
Smooth Jazz Experience”
GospoCentric Records /
ZOMBA Label Group
Reviewed by Moses T.
Alexander Greene
When I get a CD from a record label, most of the
time it’s in the “Mastered and Approved” phase;
which means, no artwork, liner notes, or graphic
design—just the music and a list of songs. I played
this CD the morning of March 27th while
running slightly late for work. “Sultry” was the
first word that came to mind when I heard Track 1
“Let’s Get Quiet (Shh).” I played the song a second
time; again feeling that the vocals and music were
sultry. The vocals (Shelly Massey) didn’t seem to be
reflective of “good, wholesome, sanctified” music
(whatever that is) so I ran to the cover because I
wasn’t trying to be overly critical.
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