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Marvin Sapp
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· Yolanda Adams -- Mountain High...Valley Low (Elektra).
There are very few Gospel divas who do not yet require support hose and girdles -- those sister/saints of the Shirley Caesar/ Albertina Walker old-school style of roof raising. However, Yolanda Adams, whose vocal prowess lands somewhere between a more sincere Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans with soul, is one such contemporary Gospel/ Christian belter. Since her debut, Through the Storm, Adams has consistently delivered latter-day, relevant messages of hope and positivity, ranging from all-out anthemic balladry with full choirs ("That Name," "In the Midst Of It All") to solo love letters to God ("Open My Heart").
On Mountain High ...Valley Low, Adams writes another chapter in her own book of Psalms, even starting the disc with "Time to Change," a tune laden with Funk that opens with a spoken call-and-response between Adams and her producer, à la Sean "Puffy" Combs. Sound hokey? Perhaps in the hands of one with less conviction, but Adams gives the running scenario about thieves, charlatans and purposefully cruel children just the right treatment.
Elsewhere, on "Yeah," singing to herself in the persona of God, Adams repeats, "You ask me, child do you love me? and I say, yeah, yeah/But will you just give up everything, follow me, yeah, yeah, yeah." There is little doubt that Adams and powerhouse executive producer Sylvia Rhone were going for radio-friendly Contemporary Gospel gems, but should there be any doubt about the power and grace inherent in the personal relationship with Jesus Christ and black Gospel's ability to convey that power and grace, check out track five, "In the Midst of It All."
Adams uses every vocal technique known to herself and the black church for centuries. Its message is as simple as it is complex -- trials, tribulations, Satan and sinking sand. The song is the benchmark of a solid disc from a woman unafraid to mix the hip with the holy.
CityBeat grade: A.
· Marvin Sapp -- Nothing Else Matters (Myrrh Records).
Marvin Sapp was once an integral part of Commissioned, the post-Winans Gospel outfit also from Detroit. Since he's struck out on his own, his contributions have often taken a back seat to Fred Hammond, the bass-thumping/writer/arranger/producer who also gave Commissioned its sound.
However, Sapp's is a more traditional, rhythmic Rhythm and Blues sound with large backing ensembles, live instrumentation and wailing, mournful saxophones. Nothing Else Matters is a gem of a release, each cut strong enough to stand on its own, yet each also integral to the underlying message of the whole -- give thanks through good and bad times and your reward is guaranteed. Highlights here include "Give Thanks," "Won't Let Go," "Nothing Else Matters" and "We Need You Right Now," an absolutely precious cover of Donny Hathaway's original.
The trump card, though, is the gutbucket Blues of the Gospel staple "You Brought Me," which Sapp unabashedly infuses with Saturday night/Sunday morning Delta, fan-waving, aisle-dancing chocolatey goodness. Ironically, the weakest link in Nothing Else Matters is the Hammond-produced "More and More," which opens the disc. Regardless, any of these songs could be heard coming from any black church. They could also be heard coming from any dwelling. Songs to live by.
CityBeat grade: B.
· Trin-I-Tee 5:7 -- Spiritual Love (B-Rite Music).
The first thing that comes to mind when Trin-I-Tee tears into "Put Your Hands," their radio-ready hit with the L.T.D. sample, "Back In Love Again," is: I didn't know En Vogue was singing Gospel. Well, they're not, but these young ladies, all Hip-Hopped out and ghetto fabulous, have remade themselves in the image of girl groups such as En Vogue, only their messages are all about chastity, steadfastness and faith. That's all good, because God knows young women generally -- and black women specifically -- need uplifting examples. However, the music lacks the oomph that the image attempts to communicate. With a few exceptions, the music is as clichéd as their collective "look" is manufactured. They even manage to drop the ball with guest Tramaine Hawkins, the venerable contralto Gospel diva on Hawkins' classic "Highway." Astoundingly -- and I do mean astoundingly -- the only song worth paying any attention to is the quiet and sublime "There He Is," by master R&B grinder R. Kelly. Check these lyrics: "Who told the Son to set me free/Who laid down and died for me/and who said the homeless was the same as me ... somebody talk to me/Where is this He?"
Something is amiss when a man known for celebrating the darkest corners of physical love pens the best song on a Contemporary Gospel album entitled Spiritual Love.
CityBeat grade: C.
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Trin-I-Tee 5:7: Spiritual Love
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· The McClurkin Project -- The McClurkin Project (Gospo Centric).
With this even and inspiring disc, Donnie McClurkin and his sisters have realized a dream. After years of touring together in different combinations, mainly with Donnie up front or solo, the arranging and lead duties have now been evenly distributed with great success. On "Every Beat of My Heart," "Alright," "Is There Any Way" and "Said I Would," Donnie's husky tenor is reminiscent of BeBe Winans while Olivia on "Holy Unto Your Name" sounds eerily like Jazz chanteuse Dianne Reeves. Everyone comes together for cotton-thick, Take Six-like harmonies on "Oh, Lord Have Mercy," a simple tome. Where Trin-I-Tee bungled its duet with Tramaine Hawkins, here Donnie whispers and wails his way through "Is There Any Way" with Hawkins who responds with weeping in her voice on the lines, "At every turn a new beginning, something I've never dealt with before/And I cry, Lord. I just want to die sometimes, Lord/Then I fall, Lord, right back in your loving arms."
Void of gimmicks, this disc is exquisite and sophisticated, a true benchmark of Contemporary Gospel.
CityBeat grade: A.
