So I’m sitting in my office doing my usual: programming music video playlists, listening to music, catching up on email, etc. and I receive an email from Black Gospel Promo with the subject line: “Juanita Bynum Ministries Presents Single’s Conference of the year!!!”

Keep in mind, I receive promotional emails and press releases all day and everyday and truthfully, most don’t jump out at me all that often since I’m pretty used to them. There’s a concert, conference or “gathering” every weekend or so somewhere in the country for some reason or another.  But needless to say, this one hit me like a ton of baptist hymnals falling off of a choir room bookshelf. (From what I heard at Sunday Best 3 auditions, it’s obvious nobody’s actually using them anymore! But I digress…)

I have no real eloquent and special way to express myself on this except to say “YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME???!!!”  Perhaps my idea of what conferences are to be is way off but it’s always been my understanding that a person hosts a conference based on having some expertise or at the very least, valuable information regarding something.  Or perhaps the conference host has proven a special ability at securing and bringing together the best and brightest experts on a subject to inform and enhance those in attendance. (Thanks Oprah…) In other words, your experience and track record in a specific area QUALIFIES you to lead or teach on it!  It’s with this understanding that I *side-eye* this renewal of “No More Sheets” as a conference which now has a focus on singles.  (I believe the original “No More Sheets” brand also dealt mainly with singles but it was not promoted exactly that way. But hey, if it was, the point I’m getting to remains…)

Yeah, I know Rev, Dr., Evangelist, Prophetess (or whatever the official title is this week) Bynum (I won’t even get into the 2nd, 3rd and 4th incarnations and suffixes she adds to her name) is now single again.  Her marriage, alleged domestic violence episodes and divorce over the last 2 years are publicly documented.  And I don’t know about you, but in my opinion this just isn’t enough to warrant you now wanting to lead single Christians as some kind of expert or role model.  Although her former husband, Bishop Weeks is married again, I’d still venture to say that it’s a little soon to start teaching and preaching on a thing that she probably still needs to come to full grips with herself.  Both Bynum and Weeks made fast moves back into public ministry after their issues instead of taking the time to heal… PRIVATELY.

As I discussed the irony of this conference, some friend’s whom I keep around to debate these types of issues said things like “Well maybe the conference is to help her too.”  Umm, ok, maybe. Then how about she goes to someone else’s conference and pays their $40-$60 registration fee and learn from them.  It’s obvious that she plans to take the lead on this thing and that makes me nervous.  Conferences have been (and apparently still are) big business for Juanita Bynum, but there comes a time when we just have to be real with ourselves and analyze these things for what they are.  What do I mean? Let’s do some very simple math. – Anything more than that and my brain will catch on fire and NOT for the Holy Ghost.

Bynum and Weeks were married for about 6 years (2002-2008) and somewhere in that time, felt they had been successful at marriage long enough to host the very popular MARRIAGE CONFERENCE series “Teach Me How To Love You.”  Now, I’ve never been married a day in my life, but something tells me 6 years isn’t really long enough to teach another  couple on how to have a successful marriage.  Now keep in mind, the conferences were well before they got divorced… you see my point?

I don’t know Dr. Bynum, nor do I know the ins and out of her personal life, but from the outside looking in, this all seems to be a little much.  Before you put yourself out there, take a minute to breathe, to live,and to just BE! Now don’t take this the wrong way, I’m not saying the woman shouldn’t  preach or should go on a ’sabbatical’ or anything like that. But the launching of a “conference” says to me that you think you’re an expert on the matter and are ready to teach me….. at a $40 price tag! (Or $60 if I want a good seat.)

Am I wrong? What do y’all think?

Torrence

I know it’s been a minute and I promised I’d be better in 2010 with the regular updates, well I promise, I will.  The last few weeks have been crazy. Between Stellar Awards, Sunday Best Auditions and the recordings of Greg Roberts & Soulful Celebration and Jonathan Nelson & Purpose on top of my regular job at BET.com, I’ve been stretched all the way thin!

So this post is literally just to say HEY! How ya durn! lol

Before the week is out, I hope to have my Stellar Awards and Bonnerfide Radio Launch party recaps up.  Also, I have are from Greg Robert’s Live recording, interviews with Wess Morgan, Still Trill Christians & Canton Jones.  I’m heading to Florida Friday night for Jonathan Nelson’s recording, then hopping over to New Orleans for more Sunday Best 3 auditions!  Have you signed up for the VIP Room? Me and friends are judging and sending a select group of folks straight to the final casting round with Mary Mary and Donnie McClurkin!

Well, that’s it for now. Let me get back to work!

ha!

Torrence

Sup folks, gonna keep this one short because with this news, I’m sure you’re going to want to rush and register.

As you know, Sunday Best Auditions begin next week and if last season is any indictation, thousands of people are sure to come and audition in each city.  If you think you have what it takes, you should audition too. But wouldn’t it be nice if you could skip the line, and audition in a private VIP room in front of me and some celebrity judges and find out if you’ve been called back to audition for Mary Mary and Donnie McClurkin in half the time?

Well, that’s exactly what we’re doing.  If you’re on your way to audition, you should register for the BET.com Digital VIP Room.  Once you register with us, we’ll send you the time and location of the VIP suite and what you need to bring, but here’s the catch…. ONLY THE FIRST 150 registrants will be allowed into the room! But early or not, you can’t get in if you don’t register.  So you can stand on line through round and round and round of general auditions if you want to, but as I’ve learned in my travels, it’s ALWAYS better in VIP!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE BET.COM DIGITAL VIP ROOM

That’s it for me!

Torrence

Sup folks! Stellar Awards weekend in Nashville was a beast. It was literally non stop and I don’t think I slept the entire time.  Well I’ve had some time to regroup and decompress.  You didn’t think I was just going to go and not tell you about it right? I can be selfish and funny acting but Im’ not that bad.

My first major event of the weekend was the 11th Annual BMI Trailblazers Of Gospel Luncheon to honor Donnie McClurkin & Andrae Crouch at Rockettown. Not only was it my first event of the weekend but it was also my first BMI luncheon ever. After hearing about it for all these years, I was excited to finally be in the mix.  As soon as I walked into the venue I knew that it was going to be first class all the way.

Before the show actually started, it was good to make my way around the room catching up with industry friends and associates I don’t usually get to see that often since we all live in different parts of the country. Shout out to Y’Anna Crawley (Sunday Best winner), Melanie Clark (Gospelflava.com and Charlotte’s Praise 100.9), Dion and Sheri Jones-Moffett, Ted Winn, Gerald Jones (Dagospeltruth.com), Tammy Taylor (One Entity), James Robinson and Gina Waters-Miller (Light Records), JJ Hairston (Youthful Praise), and a bunch of other folks. It was a party before the party! Now, the show.

Dorinda Clark-Cole opened the show with BMI 2010 Song Of The Year, “Take It Back.” She sang it with a track, but you would have thought she had a full band and singers the way she killed that thing. Love a singer like that! Congratulations to Derrick Starks who wrote the song. Pastor Marvin Winans blessed the food (it needed it) and now the “real show” begins.

Sunday Best runner-up Jessica Reedy performed what is soon to be one of her signature songs, “God Has Smiled On Me.” She changed the arrangement a bit from what you saw on Sunday Best but she kept everything in tact. It was interesting to watch the room’s reaction while she sang. She doesn’t have a project out yet but the industry loves and appreciates her! She didn’t disappoint and like always, I was a little close to tears.  She just does something to see when she sings! Goodness!

Once Jessica was done, Byron Cage began his hosting duties for the Donnie McClurkin portion of the tribute. Next up, members of Donald Lawrence’s “The Company” led by DeWayne Woods performed a snippet (literally) of “That’s What I Believe.” It was flawless of course! Then, Sunday Best finalist Latice Crawford gave a strong and forceful rendition of “I Call You Holy.” So proud to see Sunday Best being represented and appreciated by the gospel industry! (Don’t front, these folks can be TOUGH!)

Following Latice, was Micah Stampley to perform the CLASSIC Donnie McClurkin & New York Restoration Choir (i’m OLD SCHOOL) tune “Speak To My Heart.” I found this choice interesting because it’s been obvious for years that Micah Stampley looks up to Donnie McClurkin as a vocal mentor.  The similarities to Pastor Donnie are almost “freaky” but when I tell you Micah sangs the walls down….. Yeah, as long as he keeps singing like that, he’s studying right!

Next up? Marvin Winans came to sing the song that he and Donnie made popular, “Stand.” Oops, I’m sorry. Am I supposed to have something to say? Was speechless then, am speechless now! Carry on!

To close out Pastor Donnie’s tribute, the forever gorgeous Yolanda Adams gave us her take on Donnie McClurkin’s most popular song, “We Fall Down.”  I personally loved her rendition of it.  When I heard the intro to the song, I thought to myself, “I love Yolanda Adams, like really love her, but not sure if I want to hear her do this song.” Well, she did it and did it well! From this point on, Yolanda was our new host for the evening.

Blanche McAllister opened up the Andrae Crouch tribute with the classic “Right Now” along with Donald Lawrence. Listening to Blanche sing is like getting to lick the bowl and the spoon when your grandmother makes a pound cake from scratch. Sweet buttery goodness that woman can sing! (Omg, I made myself laugh with that cheesy line, but I’m leaving it right there because it’s true!) Donald Lawrence took over for DeWayne from here on the background lead duties.

Donald & The Company then laid my ears out (in a good way) as they continued the Crouch medley with “Quiet Time” (the harmonies on this song will knock you to the ground!) and “Soon And Very Soon.”

Next was probably one of the most amazing moment of the entire afternoon. Tata Vega, one of the most gifted vocalists any generation has ever seen performed “Speak Lord” and “Oh It Is Jesus.”  I really want to try and explain it to you, but it’s hard to do. Tata literally charged the the whole room. I’m hoping you all know who Tata Vega is.  If not, log on to Netflix or go to Blockbuster and rent “The Color Purple” and listen to the singing voice of Shug Avery. Now over the course of Tata’s career, I’m not sure she was solely a gospel singer but the woman’s anointing is so strong it’s scary! And the vocals? *whoosh* (been a long time since I’ve said that huh?)

After Tata was done, the room had lost all control. Yolanda tried to reclaim her hosting duties but it was no use! God was in the building and that was all she wrote! She kept trying to compose herself and finally just had to let it ALL THE WAY OUT! I was right there with her, because I felt it too. Everybody did. Which is why I was a little miffed when Cece Winans walked up to her and guided her offstage like a Baptist usher from the 80’s. But the show must go on and we were taping for TV, so I “kinda” understand….

Bebe & Cece Winans followed up with “The Blood.”  Now let me be real honest, it was soooooo good to hear them singing LIKE THAT again! It’s so secret that Bebe & Cece Winans can sing but for a while (at least in my opinion) I thought they had gotten a little “safe” every time I saw them.  A little less gospel and a lot more CCM if you will.  Well, Bebe and Cece reached back and gave you black church! They were singing.  The room, once again, LOST IT!

Mary Mary continued with “We Are Not Ashamed” and slayed us even more! I think there’s some truth to Coko’s statement that pregnancy and motherhood do wonderful things to your voice.  Tina had recently had a baby and Erica’s pregnant and they sounded better than before, and they were GREAT then!

Finally, Marvin Winans closed out the “official tribute” with “Jesus Is Lord.” I’m glad I was at a table with Marvin Winans fans, because ummm, yeah, he kept on singing after that. Everytime he thought of another Andrae Crouch song that he liked, he’d start singing that too.  Then he started tossing the mics to folks and it became a giant sing-along.  Unfortunately, most of that you probably won’t see on TV.

Andrae Crouch’s acceptance speech was probably another highlight of the day for me.  He told his testimony of his in progress healing from a foot issue stemming from diabetes. I love a good testimony, especially when there’s some humor in it. (The God I serves liked to laugh, don’t trip.) Well anyway, part of Andrae’s healing process was to treat and anoint his toe with honey! Yessir, he treated a sugar condition with SUGAR! LOOK AT GAWD!!!!! All jokes aside, it was a moving testimony.  He said something really profound that stuck with me; “I’ve written too many songs to flake out and not trust you. [God]” That messed me up right there.  We talk and sing so much about what God can do, why not live it too!

So with that, congratulations to Donnie McClurkin and Andrae Crouch. They both deserved it.

Special thanks to Wardell Malloy, Jamil Walker, and Catherine Brewton from BMI for inviting me! I’m already looking forward to next year!

Click here to see some more photos from the 2010 BMI Trailblazers Of Gospel Luncheon

Too see it for yourself, make sure you watch The Gospel Music Channel on Sunday, February 21st. I’m not even gonna lie, I forgot the time, but I’ll get it for you! Ha!

I’m out!

Torrence

As I’ve mentioned before, this weekend I’ll be in Nashville for the 25th Annual Stellar Awards.  And like I’ve also mentioned, like any other awards show,  some the best events are the ones that happen before and after the actual show.  For example,  Clive Davis’ star studded (we use that term to much but it works) Pre – Grammy party is probably the biggest event that weekend outside of the Grammy’s.  Well, when it comes to gospel and the Stellar Awards, the annual BMI Trailblazers Of Gospel Luncheon would be Clive’s equivalent!  This will be my first time attending the Stellar Awards as well as the Trailblazer’s Luncheon and after finding out who’s performing and presenting, I’m even more excited to attend the “invitation-only” affair. (Mom, we’ve made it! *wink*)

What: The 11th Annual Trailblazers Of Gospel Luncheon honoring Andrae Crouch & Donnie McClurkin

When: Friday, January 15th @ 11 a.m.

Hosts: Yolanda Adams & Byron Cage (If you saw my interview with Yolanda from Celebration Of Gospel, you know I’m looking for a tie!)

The Line Up!

Yolanda Adams (she’s performing too!)

Latice Crawford (Our very own Sunday Best 2nd Runner Up! *going in*)

Micah Stampley

Pastor Marvin Winans (*whoosh* factor just went to 10! He is still THEE Winans in my book but love them all.)

CeCe Winans (It’s a family affair!)

TaTa Vega (She’s one of the baddest vocalists around, but I felt never got her due in gospel, but I guess I was wrong! If you’re “of a certain age” you may not remember her name, but she was the voice of Shug Avery in “The Color Purple.”)

Mary Mary (they always tear it down!)

Dorinda Clark-Cole (to all my friends in Nashville, I’ll be needing extra sheets, towels, blankets, etc.)

I’m sure there are some surprises that I’m not being made privy to but in the words of the old church standby… “I Won’t Complain.” I’ll bring you whatever info I can as I find out.  So between this and the Bonnerfide Radio Launch Party, i’m ITCHING to get to Nashville!

See you there!

Torrence

Now let me explain, winning the online casting competition does NOT guarantee you a spot on the show.  There’s no way we could bypass the judges and throw you in there, they’d never let that slide! ha! But, what the two (2) winners of the online competition will win is:

• a trip to the Atlanta auditions where you skip the open call and go STRAIGHT TO THE CALLBACK round with the judges.

That’s right! No standing on a long line in the cold in rounds and rounds of auditioning. Straight to the judges!

Here’s what you have to do.

1. Go to www.sundaybestcasting.com

2. Create a profile and upload your 2 minute video singing one of the hymns from the song list.

3. On January 25 until January 29, the general public will get to vote for their favorite videos.

4. After the first round of votes are counted, the top 50 contestants will be reviewed by the show’s producers. They will choose only ten (10) contestants to go to the final round, known as the “Best & Brightest.”

5. From February 5 through February 10, the public will again get to vote for who they think should win the Sunday Best Online competition. The two (2) contestants with the highest votes will be flown to Atlanta, hang with ME and get to audition for the show’s judges.

ENTER NOW!

www.sundaybestcasting.com

www.sundaybestcasting.com

one more time…

www.sundaybestcasting.com

Torrence

Here are the Sunday Best Season 3 Audition cities/dates as it stands right now:

DETROIT

Auditions: January 30

Location:

COBO Center:

One Washington Blvd.‪

Detroit, MI 48226‪

ATLANTA

Auditions: February 20

Location:

GWCC:‪

285 International Blvd.NW‪

Atlanta, GA 30313‪

3rd CITY – TBD
Remember to go to www.bet.com/sundaybest to get the most up to date info on Sunday Best Season 3.  Also, make sure to check back to hear more about the online auditions coming soon.

Happy Nu Nu

Torrence

You’ve asked, prayed, cried and I’ve finally got some info for you! It’s not much, but every little bit helps right?

If you’re interested in auditioning for Sunday Best Season 3, here are the audition dates and cities we have SO FAR: (There are more to come…)

DETROIT

 January 30

Location: TBA

ATLANTA

Auditions: February 20

Location: TBA

Rules, regulations, approved audition songs, etc. are still being finalized, but we didn’t want to wait for all of that! Ha! However, I would suggest you start boning up on your hymns… (Trust me…)

Well that’s it for now! For the most up to date info on Sunday Best, make sure to go to www.bet.com/sundaybest.

YES!

Kierra Sheard – Kiki’s Mixtape – I know what a lot of you are thinking. “It was a CD with only 8 songs on it and 4 of them were on previous albums or simply remixes.” My friends, THIS IS WHAT KIKI DOES.  This isn’t the first time that she’s released a little teaser CD in between her major releases to keep her fans happy.  So I put this in the yes category, because the 4 songs that were new were FIRE! If she had put out a 4 song EP, I don’t think we would have minded, so if you don’t want to hear the old songs, skip ‘em! The track “Teach Me” is enough to put this into the Yes category.

Fred Hammond – Love Unstoppable – So I’m a Fred Hammond fan from way back, but over the past few years I had been a little disappointed.  I’m guilty of being one of those people who whenever they discuss Fred Hammond says the same thing: “I’m still bumping Page Of Life 1 & 2. You can have the rest.” Needless to say I wasn’t looking forward to this project because as far as I was concerned, Fred had “lost it.” So know this, whatever that “it” was, Fred got it back and then some! Love Unstoppable turned out to be one of my favorite projects this year! “They That Wait” with John P. Kee is a banger! “Find No Fault” is just old school enough in “that way I like” and  “Lost In You Again” is an immediate *whoosh* grabber.  Plus, I don’t know if anybody else notices this kind of stuff but me; but for the longest time, Fred always had this one soprano who dominated every song he did and just got on my ear’s very last nerve. Shrill much? Well, apparently she’s gone or they turned her mic down and I’m glad about it!

Ted Winn- Balance – The other half of gospel’s super duo Ted & Sheri didn’t disappoint either!   In my opinion, vocally, I’d say that Ted’s voice was probably more suited to a more contemporary gospel style, while Sheri’s gift bordered on the traditional and they switched it up on me. Ted’s CD has a more churchy feel to it but every song worked!  Again, if I let my expectations dictate how I felt, I probably would have missed something real special.  The songs, arrangement and production on this project were AMAZING. Two words: “No Weapon!”

Vanessa Bell-Armstrong – The Experience – I want to say a whole lot about this CD but I start quickening and falling out just thinking about it.  Like some other artists I’ve mentioned, we were a little concerned for Vanessa.  For a few albums she went in some “interesting” directions and we really didn’t get with it, and for good reason.  Well, this time around, with production by Donald Lawrence (he’s THAT DUDE), she gave us the album we needed AND wanted. The singing, the singing, the singing!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH, *whoosh.* Ok, I’m back.  This CD actually may be one of my favorites by her, and I’m talking about across the entire catalogue!

The Anointed Pace Sisters – Access Granted – I feel like folks did not pay proper attention to this CD. I think there was a lot of music coming out at the time and it just kind of got lost in the shuffle.  I’m so glad I didn’t miss it! Now perhaps I’m a little bit biased, because I’m a fan of both girl groups and family groups, but what makes this CD so great is the flow and production.  In our iTunes generation, we find it really easy to listen to CD’s out of order, in shuffle mode, etc. and we miss things or lose the flavor/art of a well sequenced FULL project. I try to make it a habit to listen to a CD in its entirety before I start picking out tracks to add to playlists, etc.  This CD can play from start to finish and goes from some heavy church moments (Can Duranice Pace be anything but?) to some really smooth grooves. (that is probably the corniest line I have ever written, but “smooth grooves” are the only applicable words that I can think of.) Get this CD and check out “Finally” and “Seed Of Righteousness.”  You’ll be glad about it.

The Clark Sisters – The Clark Sisters’ Family Christmas f/ J. Moss, Kierra Sheard, Bill Moss, Jr. and J. Drew Sheard II – Now typically, I wouldn’t normally include a holiday release in a package like this (even though this is technically the first one I’ve ever done) but this project stood out and truthfully, I’ll probably play it all year long.  The Clark/Moss family can generally do no musical wrong in my eyes! But really though, the way the sisters come together on this CD is bananas.  Thankfully, they’ve released a video from the live recording of “Oh Come Emmanuel.” You need this CD in your life if for no other reason than to hear Karen Clark-Sheard squall down heaven about a hula hoop  on “The Chipmunk Song.”

NO!

Greg O’Quin & IPraize – After The Storm – “Our father, which art in heaven, please give me the proper words to use to respectfully and clearly declare how absolutely awful this CD is… Amen.” I don’t think there was a single gospel lover who remembers the hit “I Told The Storm” who wasn’t looking forward to this CD. I know I was, because it had been over 10 years since that song was released and it was so powerful, so beautiful, so  wonderful, blah blah blah, that I wanted a follow-up.  But sometimes it’s better to bow out while you’re on top.  This CD left me completely speechless. How does a CD go through recording, production, mixing and mastering yet still have sour notes on it? I mean, I know everything isn’t for everybody but please show me the somebody who this CD is for and I’ll pray that this Universal Healthcare Bill passes so they can get their ears checked.  Full disclosure, part of the reason I think I’m going so hard on this project is not just because it sounded bad, (believe me it did!) But the marketing tactics around it were silly, dubious and full on foolish.  To think that some “promotions company” would take the time to spam my blog’s comments section and email with tacky “rumor” innuendo of Greg O’Quin and Regina Bell (his labelmate) falling in love on the set of a video shoot was rather gross and disrespectful. (There were enough real moral marital affairs that took place this year without having to irresponsibly make any  up!) As a matter of fact, I’m done with this. I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

Bebe & Cece Winans – Still – I, like most of the free world had wanted and waited for this day to come and when it did, I wished it hadn’t.  Now, be clear, I’m gonna put myself out there and say that I’m a fan of Bebe & Cece Winans. If you  want to see me “act a fool,” let the intro to “Heaven” come on. I get ugly and will re-enact the entire video.  But this CD I think just “was.” Yeah, I know it did this and that on the charts and all that goodness, but I think we were just excited about what could have been. But in the end it just wasn’t.  I kind of dig the single “Grace” but not enough to call this album a hit. That song and “Things” (merely because the ever so great Marvin Winans is on it) are probably the only good moments there.  But guess what, let Bebe & Cece Winans go and tour and promise to sing some hits, I’m THERE!

Maybe?

Rizen – Free – so I remember this group having 4 people, then woke up one day and there were 2 of ‘em.  There have apparently been a lot of changes with this group that I guess I just wasn’t following. Truthfully, I still remembered them as the “holy city one of these days” girls and couldn’t tell you much about whatever happened after that.  So when I realized they were now a duo and signed to Zomba Gospel, I decided to try and play catch up by listening to their new project.  I didn’t make it very far. The screaming that was done on this project kind of kept catching me at the wrong time.  I know, this is gospel, and singers scream, and typically I can get with that.  But, this CD has to catch me at the right time and there’s a chance I may like it, which is why I’m putting it in the “maybe” category. A cute marketing concept might have been to send advance copies  with branded earplugs. (That one’s free, Ha!)

Ann Nesby – The Lulalee Project – I’m a HUGE fan of Ann Nesby’s voice.  She reminds of Aretha Franklin with the Holy Ghost! (ha! If you follow me on twitter, you’d know I’ve been in an extra churchy mood lately!)  So far, the Lula Lee Project for me has been half and half.  The songs I like (The Tonex produced “I Found A Place,” “I Trust You Lord”), I REALLY like, and the ones I don’t (“Thinkin’ About You,” “Press Makes Diamonds), I really don’t like.   Vocally, it’s pretty solid though, so I couldn’t call it a “No” either.

GI – God’s Image- Just another case of didn’t get a chance to listen to it yet, but I will, but didn’t want to leave ‘em out because I like their cover of “Silver & Gold” cover by Kirk Franklin and The Family.

Shirley Caesar – A City Called Heaven – same thing as God’s image, didn’t get to hear it just yet, but Shirley’s one of my favorites!

Well, that’s it for 2009, at least as far as I’m concerned.  2010 looks like it’s going to be another great year and I’m looking forward to it.  Some things I’m looking forward to in 2010? Here’s  a quick list.

1. Karen Clark-Sheard’s first release on her label, Karew Records
2. Marvin Sapp’s new release.
3. Celebration Of Gospel 2010 (www.bet.com/COG)
4. The new season of Bobby Jones Gospel (www.bet.com/bobbyjonesgospel)
5. Kierra Kiki Sheard’s new CD (I don’t even know if she has one coming, but I just hope so! J)
6. Kim Burrell’s new CD. (Wishin’ and hopin’ and prayin’….)
7. Sunday Best Season 3  – I wish I could tell you some of the stuff in store but my lips for now have to remain sealed, but it’s gonna be goooooood (www.bet.com/sundaybest)
8. Y’anna Crawley’s debut CD!
9. Jessica Reedy’s debut CD! (I’m speaking that thing!)
10. Latice Crawford’s debut CD! (more speaking! *Pentecostal fit*)
11. Yolanda Adam’s new CD

Thanks for riding with me this year you guys. I really do appreciate all the love you guys show to me and my lil ole blog.  Everyday I sign into the software to type I still can’t believe I’m here. Wasn’t my plan but it was in THE plan and I’m rolling with it!

So just in case this is the last blog for 2009 (may not be), GOD BLESS YOU! He’ll do it because that’s what He does. I know from personal experience!

Merry CHRISTmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Kwanzaa for those of you who have that kind of time (one holiday is enough, just saying, lol!)

Torrence

So, Part Deux starts NOW..

YES!

George Huff – THE  SINGING George does on this CD makes absolutely no sense at all.  I know some of you may have been turned off by his first CD “Miracles”which although it was “ok,” didn’t allow George to really sing like you know he could.  There were some good moments on Miracles but everytime I listened t o it, I kept thinking to myself “If they don’t let this churchboy out, I’m gonna scream.” Well ladies and gentlemen, on this his self-titled follow up, he absolutely did.  The CD is a kind of perfect mix of urban/contemporary (he’s not NEARLY as old you think…) and traditional gospel. If you like squalling, there is some. If you like runs, there’s some of that too.  If you like pure simple vocals, that’s there for you also! The production is on point and with features by Tasha Collins (Sunday Best Season 1 alum) and Coko (skyprano of LIFE), you can’t go wrong with this one. I’m gonna act like you already have it, because if you don’t we have BEEF!

Smokie Norful – Live – At first, this CD almost found it’s way into the maybe category, because at first listen, it didn’t hit me. It just kind of was.  Sometimes when an artist you have expectations from drops a new CD, you have to CONSCIOUSLY freshen up your ears. Although Smokie sings his neck off, I thought I had heard everything I could from him by this point.  Runs? Check. Piano cry song? Check. And so forth and so on. And truthfully, yeah, those songs are on here, but this project really is a fresh version of the style we know him for.  “Justified” and “Dear God” quickly became life anthems for me after I put away my “is this album gonna be any different” issues away. Smokie did it and I don’t know if he used a different set of singers than he normally does, but those background vocals were Sang-Tang-A-Langing!

Brian Courtney Wilson  – Just Love – I don’t know how many times I’m going to apologize for this, but I think this will be the very last time, I have paid my penance, lol. But as many as you probably know, I wrote this CD off without even listening to it which truthfully is rather FOOLISH. I’m a marketing guy and we sometimes put a lot of emphasis on image. But I’m also a music man and I should know better, but even sometimes the industry Torrence take over.  So I saw the album cover and immediately thought Brian was a cornball and was going to sing me to a boring cave.  One day something  said put it on and I did and the rest is history I guess.  My instincts were right to think that the project would be “smooth” but boring it was not and Brian’s collection of “soulful worship” songs is a perfect backdrop during those moments I don’t want to be screamed at by an artist.  The highest *whoosh* moment is on “Already Here” which gets me right where I need to be EVERYTIME!

Coko – The Winner In Me – *slain*…ok, I’m back. But seriously, this for me was one of the best CD’s of 2009.  A lot of fuss has been made about R&B singers coming over to gospel and such.  A lot of times, I see the arguments on both sides and just kind of stay out of it, but truthfully, I only dislike it when you come over and DON’T HAVE THE GOODS. Music is music and if a person loves God enough to want to sing to  and about him, and can sing it the way it needs to be sung I say “go head.” Coko fits the bill and this particular project was quite dope to me. “May Be My Last Time” rocks hard and is my absolute favorite. (Real music heads can appreciate the turnarounds on those verses!!!) Her duet with Israel Houghton on “Joy Of The Lord” is tight and he’s SANGING on that thing. Maybe Coko’s producers should work with him next time… Sleep on this project if you choose, but it’s as tight as contemporary gospel can get and for my churchy folks, it’s OILY!

Mali Music – The 2econd Coming – I don’t know what needs to be done for folks to get a clue, but this dude IS the future of gospel music.  Probably already a little too ahead of his time for his own good, Mali Music’s new CD is absolutely ridiculous and I mean that in the best possible way.  Mali is one of the few gospel singers on the very short list (Tonex, Kierra “Kiki” Sheard, and a few others) who fall into the category of artists who can sing ANYTHING and I think that scares some folks.  We’re going to look back at this project and feel absolutely foolish that it wasn’t one of the biggest releases of it’s time and that he didn’t get the industry support he deserved. I promise you this!

Melinda Watts – People Get Ready – So I didn’t really watch Gospel Dream like that because it was a little too all over the place and yeah, whatever, I just didn’t. So I remembered who she was but couldn’t really tell you one way or the other how she did on the show, so when I got her CD I had fresh ears but still was a little skeptical. Why? Because like we’ve already discussed, I’m a little hard on CCM, ha! Melinda however, stood out and although she has some CCM sensibilities, the girl REALLY can sing on the gospel side of things and the CD feels really good.  She also has a very “sincere” way of singing that just speaks to me.  I would have never thought I’d be sung under the table by an artist like her, but there you have it, she won me over.  “Purpose Driven Life” and the remake of the old choir standby “Available To You” (duet with J. Moss) took me straight in. Don’t sleep on this project because of what you think you’re gonna get. You will be surprised.

J. Moss – Just James – Talk about a comeback.  It seems the last year or so was a rough one for artists with personal and public setbacks, especially in the area of marriages. And what has made it so frustrating is that many of the artists dealing with these issues have been a little “funky” about it and frankly, it shows in their music. J. Moss on the other hand was able to turn his situation into a CD that was sincere without being annoyingly apologetic.  J. Moss sings you into the 14^th heaven on this one and my only “issue” was that I wanted a little more.  J., you coulda sang me at least 4 more songs man!!! Ha! “Holy One” is my lay it on the floor soundtrack.

Sheri Jones-Moffett – Renewed – Here’s another project that on first listen didn’t make me go crazy like I wanted it to.  It wasn’t that I didn’t like it, it was just that I had unfair expectations for the musical direction I THOUGHT she should have gone for her project.  When we do this, I call it musical witchcraft. We want an artist to do what we want them to and try to impose our will on them like some voodoo doll. I, in fact, was one of those church people I referred to in my interview with her that had a hard time accepting this contemporary Sheri.  Well, I rose to tell ya that the CD grew on meeeeeee! “I Feel Your Spirit” gives me everything I need and “Best Life?” *whoosh* Ok I’m back….

Youthful Praise featuring JJ Hairston – Resting On His Promise – Let’s be honest, good choir music on a national level is kind of suffering a bit.  I attended this recording in the spring  and was actually a little concerned that after post production, editing, etc. that the CD experience wouldn’t have the same “umph” as the live recording and folks wouldn’t get it.  Listen here, I used to maintain that Youthful Praise’s first CD would always be my favorite and now this one is competing for that spot. Youthful Praise sings til the walls come tumbling down! It’s raw without being sloppy, contemporary without feeling fake. (There’s nothing I can’t stand  more than a choir trying to sing like an R&B/hip-hop group.) “Great Expectation” is my FAVORITE on this one, followed by “Powerful God.” (get your carpets ready. *whoosh* on 100!) Somebody’s got to take choir music forward and JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise are doing it!

Whew. Ok, now the No! category.

No!

Bishop Eddie Long & Friends – The Kingdom Volume 1 – What in THEE world? This is one of those CD’s where you listen to it and go “somebody had some extra money they needed to get rid of so why not put out a record.” The project felt a bit thrown together and even the featured artists who are some of my fav’s I think participated as favors. I’m convinced Mary Mary and Dorinda Clark-Cole sent in some vocal references they recorded on their cell phones just to be nice. And I don’t have much to say about the featured group, the GW’s. I mean…. The whole thing just felt… thrown together.  I think I appreciate and understand the sincere intent behind it. As I understand it, some dude who used to be a mainstream record executive got saved and decided he wanted to “give back” or something by working with Bishop Long to put out a gospel project or something like that. Not so much…

Maybe?

The Brown Sisters – Live In Chicago – this is gonna be short. I just never got around to listening to it really, but I love girl groups so didn’t want to leave ‘em out. Not much else to say…. (ha! Shady right?)

Vickie Winans – How I Got Over – I tend to like Vickie Winans and this CD hasn’t grabbed me just yet. The first few times I listened it just seemed a little all over the place. I find it interesting that as she has gotten older, she tries to embrace younger styles of music and sometimes it works  (“Shake Yourself Loose”) and other times it feels a little forced (“Swoop”) but I can’t count her out just yet. I gotta give this one a little more time. Plus, I love the title track and her nephew Tim Bowman GETS IT IN on that scat breakdown.  I wonder if he can sing actual verses. Hope to hear more from him.

Lisa Page-Brooks – Strong – Yet another artist I’m a groupie for! Baddest alto in THEE land and queen of the adlib. (Yeah, some of y’all have given that title to some other(s) and I’m gonna need y’all to reconsider. I know she got some funny anecdotes and all, but yeah, those adlibs could use a refresh…) I also have to keep listening to this one. Lisa’s voice makes this project a must have, but I think I’m just greedy and secretly want a live project!

Canton Jones – Kingdom Business Part featuring the Cajo Family – so I’m a little late on the Canton Jones movement. (I have a fun interview I did with him coming in the next week or so.) Over the years I had only heard a few songs and I just I wasn’t listening very well, but some friends in the industry and twitterville got me right together and I did my homework. Dude is a great and awesome vocalist, so I was excited to listen to this project.  Well, I was a tad bit disappointed, mainly because I then had to realize that this cd wasn’t really all about him and featured artists in his camp/label.  Holy Hip Hop usually has to grow on me which a lot of this CD is, so I’m going to do just that and let it grow on me.

Ok, sorry this one was so long, but I wanted to keep it down to 3 parts so had to go a little long on this one.  Check back Monday for the final installation of 2009’s Yes, No, and Maybe…

What ya think?

Torrence