Hezekiah Walker - Azusa the Next Generation [Music Review]

Artist: Hezekiah Walker

Album: Azusa The Next Generation

Label: RCA Inspiration 

Street Date: June 11, 2013

iPod Pick: No Greater Love

There is a BOLD claim I always love to make among my ‘musical’ friends, which is: LFC (Love Fellowship Choir) which happens to be Hezekiah Walker‘s choir is one of the best choirs ever. In fact most times I tend to rate them above other great choirs I love including the Soweto Gospel Choir, Kirk Franklin‘s Crew, St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir (The choir Anthony Way uses), Choir of King’s College at Cambridge, Swedish Radio Choir, and Westminster Abbey Choir (Yeah, too much British choirs, I know, but Britain [or say Europe]‘s got great choirs).

I think I’m always bold to make this bold claim cause the music of Hezekiah Walker has that organic feel of reminding us where we all came from, not just the black race but also the human race. It’s rich, deep like a never-ending well and of high quality like the diamond pendant your granny gave you and you would never want to throw away. It’s music to decipher and let serenade you. You just have to listen. And even as you listen to the music that emanate from Hezekiah’s choir, you would just hear not only the sound, you would hear the conviction, yes the convictions in each of the voices, in the voice of the thirty something single mom who’s had so much to cry about lifting her voice alongside the devotion of the twenty something young lad who heart cry is to live pure and bold in his generation. And isn’t that what we love about choirs? Voices of different texture, timbre and history rising to into one beautiful harmony telling the same story. And that’s beautiful if a choir succeeds in doing that well. Hezekiah Walker always does that well.

On ‘Azusa The Next Generation’, we have the anthemic, powered-up faith chant titled ‘Every Praise’ which is bound to pierce every dark cloud and the choir is at their tightest on this one. We also have Deitrick Haddon doing ‘Break Every Chain’ (which was formerly covered early in the year by Tasha Cobbs on her album ‘Grace’ but I must honestly say I prefer D Haddy’s version not just he can SANG but cause it has more room for response which also makes it ready for easy listen and local church choir renditions). Donnie McClurkin also appears on the soulful, worshipful ‘Breakthrough’, it’s a must listen. Before I close these appetizer givings, Brian Courtney Wilsonappears on the chill-back, windows-down ‘Grace’. Beautiful tune that would make you move on the inside.

So much on the new Hezekiah Walker’s ‘Azusa The Next Generation’ and I must say it doesn’t fail to deliver or kick off on the awesomeness of ‘Souled Out’ (Hezekiah’s last album.) Yes it’s been 5 years and we haven’t grown tired of that one. We won’t be getting tired of this one in a long while too. It’s that good.

[Review Originally Penned  For and Featured Courtesy of TheGospelGuru.com]

Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy - Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy [Music Review]

Artist: Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy
Album: Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy
Label: Tyscot Records
iPod Pick: Better Days

Okay here’s the deal, the first thing that caught my attention on first listen to Anthony Brown & Group therAPy’s self-titled debut was Anthony’s voice. Wait, it’s not the typical Deitrick Haddon or Chris Brown type but it’s got this crispy, husky and soothing feel, (think Bebe mixed with a bit of Donnie but more organic and raw). I absolutely loved it even as he opened up the Jazz styled first track (Group Therapy). He effortlessly sails through personal sounding lyrics that discuss satisfaction and where it can only be found. Even in this song, his voice soars from the low to the high again and again. ‘I Will Be’ utilizes the church clap style a lot of gospel tunes are accustomed to but the vocals remain sharp throughout. The song lyrically talks about being all God’s called one to be. ‘Better Days’ which opens up with Anthony’s great voice in an animated way and also with hopeful lyrics (Open your eyes. Today’s a brand new day and those tears you cried are all in yesterday) would sure get you off your seat on getting to its chorus. You can’t be still with this one.

For me ‘Water’ gets a five star, not that it brings anything new musically to the table but there’s a strange worshipful moment on that song no one would want to miss. The track overflows into ‘Overflow’ which might almost be mistaken if left alone as a chant by one of those very big voiced choirs. Simply said; innovative. ‘Harvest Song’ musically is a free bird. On hearing it, I’m like ‘why didn’t this start off the album?’ The choir modulation which was also utilized on ‘Better Days’ makes ‘Your Way’ shine. ‘Beyond Beyond’ showcases beautiful vocals from different members of the group and kinds of soar with different melodies.

Listening to Anthony Brown & therAPy for me was an adventure though I knew there was something more to this group even as I listened to the songs. Some songs had a leg out of the boundaries already explored by gospel music and some had both legs in. It feels like Anthony Brown and his friends have loads of creativity and stories to tell in their hands but hold back all in the name of a genre. The stories behind some of the songs are personal but fall back into clichéd lyrics we’ve probably heard before. I hopefully wait for their sophomore release, this is one musical group that has the potential of walking the red carpets of the Grammys to receive an award very soon, only if they allow God tell and paint at the same time the unique voice he wants the world to hear through them.

P.S – All the same this is still a great work any lover of classical gospel would love and those who embrace the contemporary scene too. Good efforts Anthony Brown & Group therAPy.

* [Review Originally Penned For and Featured Courtesy of TheGospelGuru.com]

DAMITA - NO LOOKING BACK

Artist- Damita
Album- No looking back

Label- Tyscott

Street date- July 22, 2008

Album length- 14 tracks. 57 minutes.

Genre- Urban/R n B/Reggae/Pop

IPod Pick- Best thing


Meet Damita. Youth pastor at the Without walls church, Tampa, Florida (Pastor Paula white’s church) and wife of all time gospel sweetheart Deitrick haddon. With her second release after eight years of long wait from her fans she establishes herself as a gospel diva.
The album opens with a groovy tune that would get you off your seat dancing (‘plain and simple’). Damita tells us her strong voice can do all things by doing the reggae hit (‘Best thing’). The album goes soft but still with beats that would steal your heart away on ‘Midnite’. The worshipful ‘I will trust’ is a proclamation of faith in Christ and his faithfulness. Radio ready ‘No looking back’ is that song you wouldn’t mind listening to on a drive in the car. Damita goes ‘political’ on ‘pray’ encouraging the people to pray to God so He can heal the land.
Eight years is a long time and surely Damita doesn’t disappoint us after this long wait with fresh messages from the heart of God. Fans of Beyonce need not look further, Damita is the real thing!

DARWIN HOBBS - FREE

Artist- Darwin Hobbs
Album- Free
Label-Tyscott Records
Street date- August 26, 2008.
Album length- 12 tracks. 58.4 Minutes
Genre- Gospel RnB/Praise and Worship
IPod pick- The Name of the LORD

Church music has had its share of revolution over the years with the influence of various music genre. This is a good thing especially for our generation, easily attracted by good beats in a song and considering lyrics second. Darwin Hobbs( popularly known for his hit ‘ We worship you today’) doesn’t fail to deliver good church music that would grab your attention (with the vocals similar to that of Luther Vandross) at first listen leaving you to consider the lyrics at second listen.
The album centers lyrically on the album title. Yes, freedom is the central theme. Getting help to be free from sin(‘Heal the land’), Genuine repentance (‘I repent’), the reality of freedom from sin (‘free’), staying free ('crosswalk’) and worship and adoration to the God who has made us free (‘the name of the LORD’,’I praise you’, and ‘sacrifice of praise’) are various topics explored lyrically in this album. The album borrows a closer from the Deitrick Haddon’s album 'worship together' on which Darwin himself features on (He’s able) reminding us all that that which God has begun in us he is faithful and able to complete it. Hobbs latest release is a powerful declaration of the Freedom we have in Christ. I assure you ‘Free’ wouldn’t be leaving your music players for a long time.