Since his first release, Yes Lord, in 1987, Pastor John P. Kee has bridged the gap between the young and seasoned saints by successfully blending traditional gospel music with modern R&B grooves. However, with the release of The Legacy Project, Pastor Kee, who wrote every song, pays homage to his musical influences from his childhood by kickin’ it old school with quartet harmonies, foot-stomping rhythms, and only a few sprinkles of R&B flavor.
Praise jams, such as “Breakthrough”, “I’ll Serve Him” (both featuring Joe Ligon), and “I Love You”, will make you wanna pick ‘em up, put ‘em down, and shout a hole into your carpet! And, while listening to worship gems, such as “Determined” (featuring Harvey Watkins, Jr.), “Praying for You” (featuring Doug Williams and Rance Allen), and “Holy Hands”, you’ll find yourself doing the church two-step with a wave offering as the lyrics pierce your soul. Pastor Kee also treats us to a few New Life Community Choir throwbacks, the “He’ll Welcome Me Medley” and “I’m Waiting”.
My personal favorites from The Legacy Project are the songs that have a few sprinkles of R&B flavor. How could I not love the Mint Condition-esque groove of the lead single, “Blessings” (featuring Rance Allen)?! “You’ve Been So Good” pairs Pastor Kee with soul star, Anthony Hamilton. The result is smooth and effortless, yet full of emotion and sincerity. And, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of Pastor Kee’s duets with Fred Hammond. “I Know You” only fuels this thought. Not to mention, the music for the vamp is STELLAR! “Finally” lovingly expresses gratitude for finally coming into a right relationship with Jesus…and the lyrics couldn’t fit better with the music. It’s just not possible!
Now, usually, I can only take quartet music in small doses. I’ll be jamming for the first few songs on a CD. But, then, as the CD progresses, all the songs start sounding the same to me and I’m over it…no longer jamming, LOL. So, the fact that I was able to listen to The Legacy Project in its entirety AND thoroughly enjoy it is nothing short of a miracle! Okay, okay…maybe “miracle” is an exaggeration. It must’ve had something to do with all the songs sounding authentic and fresh. Or, maybe it was the mix of awesome guest vocalists paired with Pastor Kee’s signature sound. Or, it could’ve been the wise decision to spread out the R&B flavored songs pretty evenly on the CD, which kept me from going into old school overload! I’m thinking it was all of those elements. And, if you feel me on this, I think you’ll be surprised to find that you enjoy The Legacy Project as well.
So, what’s my final verdict? If you love kickin’ it old school, purchase it. If you like kickin’ it old school from time to time, purchase it. If you need to learn how to kick it old school, purchase it…that should pretty much cover the rest of you, LOL!
