Various Artists (Madison Mission Music Volume 1: Smooth Gospel) - Reviews

Various Artists
Madison Mission Music Volume 1: Smooth Gospel

Purveyors of the smooth variety of Gospel —the soulful ballad, buttered vocals and sweetly grooved melodies, can relax. Madison Avenue Records has released a entire album full of such sounds.

Madison Mission Music Volume 1: Smooth Gospel is a 14-song buffet, serving up both solo and choir cuts from artist both known and unknown (so far). Excellence is a hallmark of the project, from start to finish.

You may not have heard of James Bowman III, but after catching his version of "Love Lifted Me", you'll want to hear more. The artists steps gently into the song, smoldering his soulful tenor over an instrumental track that features Kelly O'Neal's alto sax.

Likewise, Milton Doggette impresses with his rendition of Norman Hutchins' "Jesus I Love You". The youthful Doggette brings a purity of both sound and spirit to the offering, the synergy of both making the song one of the album's high points.

The label's flagship artist, Madison Mission Mass Choir, is featured on the cut "Don't Forget The Sabbath Day", written by Wayne Bucknor. Peer choir Dynamic Praise delivers their rendition of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow", using an arrangement made popular by the Georgia Mass Choir several years back.

Delving into neo-soul, Sean Simmonds' "Look At Me Now" rings with triumph. Featuring production from Montrel Darrett and instrumentation from Kelvin Wooten, Simmonds shows himself to be one to watch when his full project releases later in 2005 on Xist Records.

New group Favored is comprised of Tamera Brodie, Janea Lawrence, Jill Lawrence and Joy Times. They bring the melodic "Attitude of Gratitude" to the fore. Also new to the scene is Spare Change, a four-member group with members Shavonne Sampson (formerly of Virtue), Kevin Sampson, Billy Floyd and Tyrone Floyd. On the original "Seek Ye First", they show their flair for weaving their vocals through complex arrangements while keeping the melody up front. Mark Kibble contributes ad libs.

Also contributing to the smoothness of the album is Xavier O'Conner, flautist Ganouine Diop, Brian Cordell, Michael Awoniyi, Tina Gaines, Eric Essix and a re-appearance of Lisa Page-Brooks with "I Surrender All" from her previous solo project.

Excellent all the way through, you could rightly call this disc your primer for Gospel of the smooth and groove variety.

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Producers: Various album release date: December, 2004
Madison Avenue Records

— reviewed by Stan North —