If you were at Marvin Sapp’s live recording (or at www.VerityRecords.com) on Friday night, you heard the great music that he plans to put on his new project, tentatively titled Here I Am, expected in the first quarter of 2010.

My wife and I were fortunate enough to make it to Grand Rapids for the event.  Once we got there, we met up with Gerard Bonner (Bonnerfide Radio, GospelFlava.com), Jawn Murray (AOL Black Voices, Tom Joyner Morning Show, etc.) and Sheilah Belle (The Belle Report) before heading to the venue.  Once there, we got settled in the front row along with Neechy (RocSpace) and the folks from Verity before the recording began.  When I tell you we were cutting up from JUMP… let’s just say we were a rowdy group.

Before the recording, Aaron Lindsey’s wife, Adrian, surprised him with an award to recognize him for his commitment to the gospel/Christian industry, and for writing and producing such GREAT music.  It was kinda awesome of her… wanna point it out cuz you wouldn’t know it if you weren’t there.

Next, Marvin Sapp’s brother, Henry Sapp, performed a stand-up routine to get the crowd ready.  I’m not a huge fan of stand-up, but he had the crowd laughing a bit.  Finally, drummer extraordinaire and MC-for-the-night Ray Bady came to the stage to introduce Marvin Sapp.

With lights and energy at level 10, Marvin Sapp took to the stage and performed some reeeeaaally great music.  For me, it got even better as the recording progressed.  Aaron Lindsey served as musical director/producer while Myron Butler worked the vocal production with some of the tightest background vocals you’ll find in the game (shout out to Candy & Peaches West and Deonis Cook).

My favorites of the night: “Fresh Wind,” a song with a churchy/quartet feel to it, the vamp of which we stayed on for a good while; “Comfort Zone,” an encouraging ballad penned by Ted Winn (who was in the house); and, of course, ”He Saw The Best In Me,” written by Sapp and Lindsey, which reminds me of “Never Would Have Made It” in terms of its lyrical simplicity but easy-to-relate-to sentiment.  I also enjoyed “Wait On Him,” “I’m In His Hands,” and “I Came.”  It was just an evening of really good music.

He capped off the night by thanking and acknowledging various people in the audience, which included Commissioned mastermind Michael Brooks (and, of course, his lovely wife Lisa Page Brooks!).  Almost as if unable to help himself, Sapp went into a quick impromptu medley of classic Commissioned songs written by Brooks– “City,” “Will You Be Ready,” “Giving My Problems To You”… it was tons of fun.  I got several tweets that the live feed was cut, probably because of licensing issues for those songs.  Sorry ya missed it!

Other folks of note in the crowd– Deborah Smith Pollard (Detroit radio DJ, author, speaker, professor and gospel historian), Michael Williams (drummer and former member of Commissioned) and Ken Reynolds (Integrity Music worship artist).

Pastor Sapp ended the entire evening by singing a small bit of “Never Would Have Made It,” like I’ve NEVER heard him sing in my life.  His range was limitless and he made me feel like it was the first time I heard the song, which is a very tough task given how much it’s been played.

Special shout-out to Kymberlee Norsworthy, Jazzy Jordan, Jeff Grant and Joseph Burney of Verity Gospel Music Group– you were fantastic hosts and you made the weekend great for us.  Plus, it was just good to see ya!

I’ve got a few photos for you below, but I urge you to check out Gerard Bonner’s website (http://www.GetBonnerfide.com, in the “In Concert” section) for a full collection of great shots.  And I also got a chance to chat with Marvin Sapp, Aaron Lindsey and Myron Butler after the recording.  I’ll tell you what they had to say later this week, so stay tuned.

Who else was in the house in Grand Rapids?  Who heard the recording online?  Which songs were your faves?

TALK TO ME!

On Monday, my wife and I accompanied a friend on a roadtrip to Memphis for the Verizon Wireless How Sweet The Sound choir competition.  The event was at the FedEx Forum and it was pretty packed.

The evening began with a performance of “Let The Word Do The Work” by Donald Lawrence, who co-hosted the evening with Lisa Kimmey-Winans.  I never get tired of that song, nor any others on The Law Of Confession: Part 1… I’m like a junkie. But whatever!

After his performance, Donald introduced the judges– Kurt Carr, Michael Davis (Memphis’ Hallelujah 97.5FM) and Marvin Sapp– before moving swiftly into the small choir competition.  The Good Hope Sanctuary Choir, of Memphis’ Good Hope Church, won in that category for their awesome performance of “When The Saints Go To Worship.”  They really looked and sounded great!

Before intermission, Kurt Carr and a few of his singers sang “Peace And Favor Rest Upon Us” and dazzled the crowd.  The second segment of the show began with Marvin Sapp ministering with “Never Would Have Made It,” a song that is proving to NEVER grow old.  Those saints were jumping up and down, screaming for him like a teenage girl at a Michael Jackson concert.  It was incredible!

The second segment featured the large choirs and the Greater Community Temple Voices, of Greater Community Temple COGIC, won that set with their jaw-dropping performance of the O’landa Draper CLASSIC “My Soul Doth Magnify The Lord.”  That church was O’landa’s home church before his sudden passing in 1998… they did him PROUD and were just on another LEVEL.

They were also the big winner of the ENTIRE night and will represent Memphis at the national HSTS competition.  I am kinda predicting that they’ll actually win the whole competition this year– just a phenomenal job.

The night ended with a grand finale of “The Blessing Of Abraham,” led by Donald Lawrence featuring the choirs and a BUNCH of singing fans in the audience.  To be honest, I didn’t expect to enjoy the event as much as I did.  I dunno how good other cities are, but good singin’ is in the water in Memphis.  And choirs are just… not a game.  Plus, the production of it was superb (kudos Verizon Wireless!).  I had a really great time.

Special shout-out to Monica Coates, Sheri Jones-Moffett & Dion Moffett, Donna Creer, and Donald Lawrence.  It was great to see you guys!

I hadn’t planned on pulling out my camera, but… I didn’t wanna leave y’all hanging.

My wife and I were fortunate enough to be invited to a great studio session in Nashville last night– gospel/CCM group Ashmont Hill was laying tracks for their upcoming album, which should be out in early 2010.

LEMME TELL YA– great songs, from what we heard.  The lyrics alone are insightful and refreshing (the imagery of one song, alone, was enough to almost take me OUT during the session).  Additionally, the music is relevant and excellently done.  Ashmont Hill is another one of those gap-bridging recording artists… I think we need to really embrace ‘em.

Special shout-out to producer Sal Oliveri for the invite and to the group for letting us crash.  We had a blast.

What do YOU GUYS know about Ashmont Hill?  If you’ve got their debut album, you know what I’m talking about.  If this is your first time hearing about them, it won’t be your last.

Check out their MySpace page and lemme know what you think: http://www.myspace.com/ashmonthill.

My wife and I were fortunate enough to receive an invitation to a private gathering to celebrate the release of the full album from Gotee Records recording artist B. Reith, entitled Now Is Not Forever.

We’ve been jammin’ to B’s seven-track EP for months now, so we were excited to be in the swank little Franklin, TN spot to hear the full project.  Folks who weren’t able to attend were able to watch the party as it streamed live on his website, BReith.com.

It’s kinda hard to sum up B. Reith’s style– he’s a singer and a rapper, and does both VERY well on his tracks.  But he’s also an incredibly gifted songwriter– some of his melodies are reminiscent of Stevie Wonder’s memorable tunes and his musical ideas are refreshing and innovative.  More than anything, he’s in love with Jesus Christ and he uses his gift to demonstrate what THAT relationship looks like as he lives his life.

At the event, B chatted with the crowd, played some recorded tracks, performed a few cuts live, and even showcased some hot new apparel bearing the title of his new album, Now Is Not Forever.  And to make sure we all knew how important this release is, tobyMac was in the house to show support for B and to encourage us all to buy this project (and, if you follow me on Twitter, you saw me gush about how hot his pair of Pumas was).  All in all, it was an exciting time. 

So, here’s the deal… I need you guys to check him out and check out this album.  Visit his MySpace page to hear full-length tracks and learn more about him.  I believe you guys are gonna really enjoy it… I’m a HUGE supporter.  Special shout-out to Calvin Nowell, B’s manager, for the invite!

For your listening pleasure, I’m embedding one of my fave tracks from the album, called “Rain Down”:

Lemme know what you think!

Award-winning singer/songwriter/producer Antonio Neal and his wife have opened a recording studio in the Nashville area.  My wife and I were fortunate enough to check it out on Saturday and it looks great!

The studio was already buzzing with a group prepping to record when we got there.  They were in one room doing a quick rehearsal while Antonio gave us a tour of the place.

After the tour, he sat with us and shared his heart for what he’s doing.  Antonio really has a passion for pouring into new artists, to aid in their development and growth.  This studio isn’t just a business venture– it’s a ministry.  If you’re in the Nashville area and looking for a place to record, I strongly urge you to consider this spot.

The video below gives an idea of what the space looks like. It’s from a few months ago, before the studio was finished, but almost everything that he says will be in the studio, IS NOW in the studio. Very great work!

I headed to Memphis last night for Sheri Jones-Moffett’s album release concert.  It’s about a 3.5 hour drive from me, so my wife and I jumped in a car and headed down I-40.

About 2 hours into the trip, we got a blow out on the highway!  I’m talking sudden, tire ripping up, rim bent, huge trucks pushing 80 mph all around us, forced to veer into the grassy middle section of the highway to avoid being taken OUT.

In no time, God sent three troopers, in three separate cars, to guard us from oncoming traffic and to help me change the tire.  My wife called all the necessary auto companies, arranged everything, and we were at a Firestone auto place getting a new tire in no time (dunno how she does all of it– she’s just kinda fly like that!).

ANYWAY, she drove us to Memphis with 4 minutes to spare for the release concert.  We got in and grabbed our seats before the event began.

Ken Pennell, President of EMI Gospel, took a moment to share his thoughts and enthusiasm about Sheri’s release.  He spoke about her artistry, her passion, her message… it’s refreshing to see a label head who is so supportive and so sold-out for an artist’s ministry.  It says a lot.  He capped off his remarks by reading Colossians 3:16, which he said exemplified Sheri’s work: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Up next, Jai came to the stage.  You guys remember me talking about Jai?  Click here if you don’t.  She’s one of the newer developing artists that has snatched the attention of lots of industry folks within the past year or so.  She’s got a phenomenal gift (great voice, awesome communicator).

Jai opened the concert with a heartfelt, rock ballad “I’ll Wait,” and captivated the entire audience (many of whom prolly didn’t really know her just yet).  By the time she finished, we were compelled to give a standing ovation– she just blew EVERYONE away.  Great job.

Sheri came out immediately thereafter, lookin’ amazing and sounding even better!  Backed by three singers and a live band, Sheri opened her set with the bangin’ track “Free Indeed.”  Her voice is limitless (I think, one of the industry’s best-kept secrets) and she was MORE than ready to handle a full concert on her own.

During the concert, Sheri said “I’m not gonna be one of those people that say ‘I didn’t come here to entertain.’  Yes, I did.  Because to ‘entertain’ means to hold one’s attention.  But while I have your atention, I plan to make a deposit into your spirit.”  And she did just that.

From making us dance on the hotttt single, “Renewed,” to encouraging us on “Not Too Late To Dream,” to leading us in worship on “Grace Of God” and “I Feel Jesus,” Sheri demonstrated a personable and loving solo artistry with her supporters.

Sheri thanked family, friends and co-laborers in the audience (and gave huge props to Donald Lawrence, who she says was very involved in making sure this project was RIGHT), before performing her last song of the night– the New Orleans-styled “I Feel Your Spirit.”

She was mindful of the fact that it was a Tuesday night, so we were out of there in NO time (but she managed to do a bunch of songs!).  I was back on the road and home by 3am-ish.  And now, I’m exhausted. LOL

Special shout-out to Sheri’s assistant, Dave Burns, who put the whole event together (you’re great, dude!), Dion Moffett (an awesome & supportive husband), and EMI Gospel folks Ken Pennell, Larry Blackwell and Shelly McBride (great to see you guys!).

If you don’t have the album, pick it up NOW.  It’s a great body of work and I think you’ll be blessed by it.  Holla!

Oh, a quick pic of Sheri and me (I don’t have shots of the event cuz somebody said “no cameras,” and I wanted to respect the sanctuary… plus, I was too busy being a fan to be snappin’ pictures! LOL)…

I’m sure you all saw my live tweetin’ and bloggin’ from the set of BeBe & CeCe Winans’ first video shoot in 15 years, for their new single, “Close To You.”  I wanted to provide you with a full recap today.

The shoot was about 45 minutes outside of Nashville, in a wooded area with no cell reception (at least, from my service provider).  There were bugs aplenty and holes in the ground that looked like snake holes (they ended up being vole holes and, FOR REAL, I would’ve preferred seeing a snake over a vole any day… Google it!).

Still, the setting was beautifully serene and the shots that the crew captured were stunning.  BeBe & CeCe were consummate professionals– giving exactly what the director needed without mistakes or re-dos.  They both looked INCREDIBLE (huuuuge shout-out to master stylist Roni Burks).

As the day went on, BeBe joked about being sleepy (he, apparently, goes to bed around 7pm, so at 6pm, he’s given about all he can muster) while  CeCe was busy checking on our comfort (“y’all still doing okay???”).  The chemistry between the siblings is as genuine off-camera as we typically see it on television.

The shoot wrapped at around 7:00pm and everyone was EXHAUSTED.  BeBe & CeCe had already spent the week finishing up their album, so a 12+ hour video shoot was just… a LOT.  But, they were troopers and, judging from some of the playback, this video is gonna be beautiful.  I’m only gonna show photos of one scene (cuz you wanna be surprised, even if you don’t think you do), but I think you’ll LOVE these photos:

Major shout-out to Grant Jenkins (Point5ive Agency) and Ron Gillyard (Strategic Artist Management) for the opportunity.

What do you guys think???

Still on-location for the video soot for “Close To You,” the hit single from BeBe & CeCe Winans.

We broke for lunch (glorrraaaaaaay!) and some air-conditioning (glorrraaaaaay times TWO!).

Half-done with the day, but I’m exhausted already. Imagine if I were one of THEM– startin’, stoppin’, smilin’, singin’…

Such is life. Pics to come next week, unless you’re following me on Twitter today: http://www.twitter.com/gospelpundit.

I am in the middle of the woods, using a make-shift web connection cuz my signals are shot.

Still, finding ways to tell y’all about the BeBe & CeCe Winans video shoot for “Close To You.”

It’s in a wooded area, beautiful foliage and bugs. LOL

BeBe has finished his solo part for the first scene and CeCe is wrapping up now.

Go to http://www.twitter.com/gospelpundit for a coupla pics!

More later…

As I mentioned earlier this week, I’m on-location RIGHT NOW at the video shoot for BeBe & CeCe Winans’ new single, “Close To You.”  It’s their first video in 15 years and I’m gonna bring you up-to-the-minute info throughout the day.

As many of you know, Twitter failed and crashed and what not yesterday, and it’s still not functioning at 100% (which SEVERELY inhibits my ability to do what I need to do!).  I’m still aiming to do Twitter updates, but check RIGHT HERE on the blog, too–  I’ll be sending info to both.

Follow me at http://www.twitter.com/gospelpundit

Follow BeBe & CeCe at http://www.twitter.com/bebeandcece

And keep it locked here throughout the day, so you don’t miss anything!