EXCLUSIVE from Associate Editor Troy Lilly…

I love good music and good food. And boy did I get an overdose of both at the NABJ Gospel Brunch during convention for the National Association of Black Journalists in San Diego, California on Saturday.

CeCe Winans was this year’s featured artist, and she dropped by to feed our souls with her music as we feasted on a delicious brunch assortment. She started by revisiting the upbeat singles “Hallelujah Praise,” “Pray” and “Waging War” from her three most recent albums.  But then there was a change of pace a bit because, as CeCe put it, she “gets really excited about the slow songs.”

Just before she moved on, though, she revealed that her son Alvin Love III had traveled with her and was actually singing backup with her on stage. How cool is that? He did an awesome job, by the way, and she praised him just enough to make him blush – the way only a mother can.

She sang “He’s Concerned” next, a song recorded right after her oldest brother, Ronald, passed away in 2005. It was clear that this song had a deeper meaning for her. For nearly ten minutes, she talked about God’s concern for each of us, his children, and asked everyone in the audience to place a hand on our hearts. As you can imagine, tears began to flow around the room.

After everyone recovered from “He’s Concerned,” she closed the set with “We Welcome You (Holy Father),” the beautiful worship ballad from her Thy Kingdom Come album. Although I love to eat, I’m sure you understand that the music was the most satisfying treat at the brunch. This was also her second invitation to NABJ; she graced the Gospel Brunch in 1996 when the conference was in Nashville, Tennessee.

Following the performance, I spoke with CeCe briefly.  Here’s what she had to say:

What are your thoughts on the gospel music industry at the moment?

CeCe: I think we have a lot of great talent – we’ve always had great talent in gospel – but I think we’ve got to come up with more platforms for some of the newer artists. And I wonder if the next generation will recognize and heed the wisdom of the gospel greats.

You just released a compilation album, Songs of Emotional Healing. What’s next for you?

CeCe: Well, we’re taking the “Always Sisters, Forever Brothers” conference on the road – nationwide and maybe international, possibly Africa. So far it’s been held in Tennessee at Belmont University, but we want to expand.

What memories can you share of the late Bishop Walter Hawkins?

CeCe: Wow! Well, I will never forget the first time I saw Walter, the first thing that I thought was, ‘what kind of perm does he have in his head?’ I really did! But also, the Winans, we started out by emulating the Hawkins family. We wanted to be like them and I truly miss Walter very much.

Well, who keeps you looking so put together all the time?

CeCe: I’m actually a licensed cosmetologist, and I don’t have anyone on the road with me, so I use what I know to help myself out, you know what I mean? I know a few things.

You’ve always recorded music with a contemporary and R&B sound. What has kept you from crossing into secular territory like some gospel artists have decided to do?

CeCe: When you know what your purpose is, and what you’re here to do, it’s not hard. It’s never been a hard choice for me. And I’m not passing judgment on any gospel artists that have. However, there have been things that we [Bebe & CeCe] have done where I look back and say, ‘Lord, why did we do that?’ Like when we appeared on the Martin show back in the 90s. We got on the set and it was really a mess. I was said “God if you can use this to bless, then please do.”

I’ve always been a fan of CeCe’s music, but I can truly say now that I love her as a person, too.

Troy Lilly has HELD IT DOWN for the past several weeks, writing awesome recap after awesome recap of BET’s nationwide talent competition Sunday Best.  What better way to discuss the season finale at GospelPundit.com than in Troy’s own words?  Without any delay, here’s Troy Lilly…

*     *     *

It’s official – the people have spoken and the results are in.

LeAndria Johnson is the winner of BET’s Sunday Best for season three. Thousands from around the country auditioned, but in the end there could be only one. She won the title after viewers like you took to the Web and phone lines, casting votes online and via telephone and text.

She will receive a national recording contract and a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO.

But she didn’t have time to get caught up in celebrating. Immediately after she was named the winner, LeAndria debuted her first original song, “I Shall Leap Into My Destiny.” Sounds like she’s ready to leap forth into her new recording career.

LeAndria beat out the unlikeliest Sunday Best contestant yet, 79-year-old Elder Goldwire McLendon. Elder McLendon defied the myth that you have to be young to win a singing competition, and that age works against you. He showed that his seven decades of experience only helped him. That, and the anointing.

The show was awesome, too. The theme for the evening was “seasons.” Host Kirk Franklin said there’s a time for weeping. “A time to weep a time to laugh and a time to sing.” 

Representing the East Coast, Bishop Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir opened the finale with their ubiquitous choir-favorite “Souled Out.” Choir members appeared in the audience and ran up on stage with Hezekiah Walker. They really got the house rockin’.

Each of the contestants performed a medley of songs that comprised their best showing during the competition. 

LeAndria Johnson sang, “I Love the Lord,” “He Was There All the Time,” and “In the Midst of It All.” 

Asked why she sings they way she does, LeAndria simply answered, “pain!” Before coming to Sunday Best she lost her house. In the audition she wore flip-flops and socks because that’s all she could find. She said at one point she had chosen death over life. But one song got her through: Yolanda Adams’ “In the Midst of It All. How ironic that she also sang it during the show. Yolanda was honored and said she feels the pain, but more importantly, the victory of LeAndria.

 Elder Goldwire McLendon began singing a few bars of  “Yes, Jesus Loves Me” with barely any music, and moved right into “The Battle Is The Lord’s,” another Yolanda song. He finished up with a characteristically energetic rendition of “He’s Keeping Me Alive.”

 One week before Elder McLendon auditioned for Sunday Best he heard God say he was moving into a new season of his life. “God will set you up if you stay in His will,” Elder McLendon said. Throughout the competition, it seemed like Elder McLendon had been set up by God to win. And he was certainly a worthy contender. Judge Tina Campbell said, “every time I experience you I experience the God that you love and live for.

Season Two mentor Donald Lawrence returned with a few special guests to showcase his quintessential hits. Season two contestants, Jessica Reedy and Latice Crawford, sang “Seasons,” and “Encourage Yourself” respectively. And Season Two winner, Y’Anna Crawley, sang a stripped-down version of “The Blessing of Abraham.” Together, they did a few bars of “Let the Word Do the Work.”

 But no one could have prepared for the special treat that came next.

God answered my personal prayer and this year’s mentor, Kim Burrell, FINALLY performed. And the wait was so worth it. She remixed “Oh, Lord” from her Everlasting Life album, freestyling the words up to recognize Sunday Best contestants Martha Buries, Dathan Thigpen, Tiffany Carlin-Laird and Orlando Wright. Her musical acumen is undeniable and reaches across so many genres. I would go as far to say she’s the finest gospel-jazz singer of our time.

In addition to the prizes given to the winner and runner-up, Kirk presented a generous donation of $30,000 on behalf of BET to the New Orleans’s Ellis Marsalis Center for Music. New Orleans native and saxophonist Calvin Johnson was the featured local musician this week. 

Season three of Sunday Best will go down in the books as a competition that redefined what a contestant should look like. It also showed, yet again, that the power of gospel music has no limit, and the healing power can often touch the person who sings it as much as those who hear it.

LeAndria Johnson’s win this year was a triumph over the competition, but equally a triumph in her personal life. As Kim Burrell warned her, she’ll have to start preparing for life as LeAndria “after the fact.”

*     *     *

Great recap, Troy.  Thanks!

NOW, what are we gonna do on Sunday evenings?!

Leave a comment and lemme know what you folks liked/disliked about the season finale!  And what do you think about how it all turned out?!

Who rocks the recaps?  Troy Lilly rocks the recaps.

And he’s back with more this week.  Without delay… here’s our buddy, Troy Lilly, with his take on last night’s episode of BET’s Sunday Best…

*     *     *

After weeks of watching the judges voice their opinions and make – at times – controversial cuts from the lineup, it’s time for YOU to decide who will become Sunday Best this year.  No more blaming the judges, people.

So, the show last night began by reminding us what the winner walks away with besides a whole bunch of votes: a national recording contract – and a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO! Exciting, right?

The episode also introduced music directors, Stanley Brown and PJ Morton, and featured an instrumental by trumpeter Shemar Allen as a tribute to New Orleans, Louisiana, the host city for this season’s show.

Ledisi, another phenomenal R&B singer, opened the show with “Higher Than This,” a song from her latest album. I was sure the “high” she refers to was, well you know, that of a man. Ledisi (almost) convinced me the song was written about God. There are only two words for her singing style last night: church bred. I’ve been following her on Twitter, too, and she’s got a little word in her.

And then later in the show, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, who is nothing less than a gospel music legend, sang “Good News,” a song EJ premiered on GospelPundit.com last year before anyone else.  But on to the contestants…

Elder Goldwire McLendon – “I Know It Was the Blood” and “Jesus Be a Fence Around Me”

I wanna be like Elder McLendon when I grow up. He’s got Holy Ghost swagger! And he strutted it all over the stage yet again. Although I feel he was shortchanged a bit by the communion song (he could’ve really handled something far more challenging), he still managed to make “I Know It Was The Blood” his own.  I would have loved another song like “Jesus Be a Fence,” which Elder sang next.

On this song he showed more of the energy and vitality we saw last week during his performance of “He’s All Over Me.” Particularly during the vamp, he added some nice adlibs and, of course, hop scotched like a pro. Last night Elder said something that stood out to me: “I am not singing to people, I sing to God.” It’s clear that knowing who you’re singing to makes a world of difference.

LeAndria Johnson – “Running Back to You” and “Set Me Free”

Judge Donnie McClurkin asked last night if there’s anything LeAndria can’t sing.  I’d have to ask the same question because, if there is, I haven’t heard it yet. LeAndria tackled a classic Commissioned song first with stunning results. It may have been difficult for another singer to deliver a signature song without sticking to the original artist’s style. Not LeAndria. One of her greatest attributes as a singer, in my opinion, is her ability to interpret songs in a unique way. As I said a few weeks ago, song interpretation is what makes a singer an artist.

She was clearly up for the challenge on her second song as well. Not only did she interpret Myron Butler & Levi’s “Set Me Free,” she shared a personal testimony at the same time.  “I may have lost my house,” she sang, “but God’s got a mansion for me.” I believe he has so much more.

The Faceoff

The true faceoff of the evening, however, came in the form of a duet between Elder McLendon and LeAndria. They teamed up and sing “I’ll Take You There” to close the show. Hand in hand for the majority of the song, the pair played off of the large age gap between them and marched around the stage cheerfully in a performance that was rather harmonious for them to be going against ach other for the Sunday Best title. It was definitely a highlight of the show.

Their fate is now in your hands. You’ve been watching every week. You’ve seen the good and the not so good. You’ve seen each of them leap across the stage and bring the judges to tears.  Now you must decide who is Sunday Best.

Remember, you can vote until Saturday June 19, 2010 at noon EST. To vote online at the Sunday Best page on BET.com, click here.

What’s the verdict?

This is Part Two of your weekly Sunday Best recap. If you haven’t seen Troy Lilly’s editorial on last night’s program, click here… great perspective! If you’re all set, let’s go…

This week’s episode brought us one step closer to knowing who would be crowned Sunday Best as the judges made a tough decision, dismissing who many thought could win this year– Durward Davis. I had planned to recap it all again, but Troy did such a great job– no need to reinvent the wheel.

What I would like to chat about it, instead, is the root of our “shock” over the results portion of the show.

Full disclosure– I was shocked last night. I thought LeAndria and Durward were going to the finals. I thought that Elder Goldwire McLendon had done above and beyond what most expected, but that the end of the road was nigh. And I was going to be fine with that. When Kirk announced that Durward Davis would be going home, I was surprised. And the social networks immediately went to buzzin’, too.

But I’ve given it a little thought since last night, and I guess I have gotten to the point where I’m NOT so shocked anymore. Hear me out…

Many have said that Elder Goldwire McLendon, while a true treasure and an incredible contestant on this show, may not experience widespread commercial success in the gospel music industry and, as such, should not/will not win.  I, for one, think I would be more inclined to see him live than to purchase a full album of his.

But does that mean he shouldn’t win this year? Not necessarily…

The reality is that we, the viewing audience, don’t really know WHY Sunday Best exists. We love it, for sure, but it’s not easy to pinpoint the program’s end goal, at least not by way of their actions. And because we can’t pinpoint the end goal, it’s hard to have a reasonable expectation of the criteria it will use to get there.

With American Idol, for example, we know that the end goal is to create a superstar that will do well commercially. Everything points to it and they make no qualms about it. Everything that they decide speaks to it. Sunday Best, however, has never said that the commercial success of its winners is its paramount concern. And while skeptics and cynics will say “of COURSE that’s their chief concern… it’s a BUSINESS,” you have to admit that we’ve got a unique situation on our hands.

We’ve got a television program that will take 30 seconds of otherwise valuable air time to show people shouting and dancing, and where the judging criteria is based on an otherwise nebulous, but oh-so-common-for-us, term called the “anointing.” And time after time, this season and in season’s prior, the judges have sent several packing who have looked the part and had the vocal chops in exchange for something… different.

Even beyond that, we’re in an industry where most of the biggest names and highest-selling artists are closer to 40 years of age than 20 years of age, in complete contrast to the mainstream music industry.  We’ve got an industry where– and I’m just being honest– you don’t have to be a certain look or size in order to participate.  In fact, if you’ve got a lil’ meat on your bones, you’ll probably get a better response… again, diametrically opposed to mainstream music.  So is it far-fetched to believe that, even in a talent competition that mimics a mainstream music contest in some respects, there would be some aspects of it that are diametrically opposed to the mainstream music biz?

The reality is that Elder McLendon, whether he floats your musical boat or not, is making a big impact on folks.  The judges have been excited about his vocal delivery, but also about how God has preserved him and how he takes you back to old time holiness.  He’s a throwback of sorts, the sheer intrigue of which we can’t quite pinpoint, but can all feel a little bit.  Dunno if that’s what you’re looking for in your Sunday Best winner, but I’m curious to know what’s not ‘gospel’ about what he brings to the table?

Full disclosure #2– I’m not saying this to say that he should win.  I’m still rootin’ for Tiffany Carlin-Laird, and she ain’t even ON the show anymore.  I’ll have to pick a fave by the finale.

I dunno.  I just think it’s kinda hard to say that a contestant shouldn’t progress just because people might not really buy the album. People won’t really buy the albums of some of the biggest names in gospel music anymore.  Perhaps the criteria, or ultimate question is, will this person be a vital addition to the gospel music industry?

In that light, it becomes incredibly difficult to say. Who, among our finalists, would be the greatest asset to the industry? How do we even measure that? Is that even the goal of Sunday Best? If not, then what is?

No answers are right or wrong… these are just my random thoughts.

Anyone?

The intense competition that has marked this season of BET’s Sunday Best was still in full effect during last night’s episode. The theme for the evening– songs that pay tribute to gospel in cinema– was rather creative and, for the most part, the contestants stepped up to the challenge.  Before they got their turn to shine, however, the incomparable Karen Clark Sheard opened the show, reminding the nation why she’s one of gospel’s favorite female vocalists.

With a signature performance that only she can pull off, Karen Clark Sheard sang, squalled and riffed on “Prayed Up,” the single from her latest album, All In One. My only disappointment was that it was performed to a track instead of with the in-house band.  Musical director Stanley Brown produced much of Finally Karen, so it seems it would’ve been a great musical reunion of sorts. In any case, Mrs. KCS gives 100% every time and, even with a track, her performances are electrifying and captivating.

Up next were the Sunday Best finalists.  Judges for the night were Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams and Tina Campbell, with Kim Burrell once again assisting as vocal coach during the finalists’ rehearsals.  I was particularly excited to get some longer songs from them, now that there are fewer vocalists, but disappointed that some of the selected “gospel songs” on cinema were actually just “songs” on “gospel-tinged movies.” Womp womp…

In any case, here’s the blow-by-blow on each contestant:

Tiffany Carlin-Laird – “Joyful, Joyful”
Tiffany’s got such a stage presence and charisma– she’s mesmerizing.  This was not her best performance, and it was clear, but even on her “bad” day, she was greater than most. Donnie picked up on both the fact that she tripped and that she was hoarse, but noted how professional and capable she is, despite all of that.  In my opinion, she demonstrated that she was one of the best in this competition since her audition– she was consistent and never failed to show us the best of her gift.

Durward Davis - “I Believe In You and Me”
This is one of those “this isn’t a gospel song– it’s an R&B song by the Four Tops that was used in the nightclub scene of a church-based movie.”  No matter… Durward’s voice is so smooth, he still drew me in.  He does a great job of working a song– starting simply, then leading listeners on a journey before building and smashing us to pieces.  That said, this performance was a bit forgettable to me, not because he didn’t do well, but because he didn’t do anything particularly memorable.  It seems Durward doesn’t always create “a moment,” and these competition shows are all about being able to point back to those types of moments.

Martha Buries – “Will You Be There”
Another tune that wasn’t a gospel song, but became one last night. Honestly, Martha has a really great voice, but the song was tentative until halfway through, when she grabbed the mic off the mic stand.  Her confidence, or lack thereof, has been a recurring topic of critique– from coach Kim Burrell to the judges.  It’s all in the eyes and it is unsettling for audiences.  When the audience thinks you’re not confident, it’s hard for them to get with you.  I love that Tina Campbell encouraged her, explaining that she’s better than she thinks she is– incredibly true.  I am excited for her to realize and own it.

Elder Goldwire McLendon - “He’s All Over Me”
Great song choice for him– we got to see him on an upbeat tune.  I will say this upfront– if any other contestant forgot the second half of an entire verse, they’d be cut, regardless of how much singing and steppin’ they did for the rest of the song.  That said, I think the judges are more interested in showcasing the power of God in this 79-year old contestant (and his more-than-impressive vocal ability and agility) than in nitpicking over a misstep or two.  And I can’t be mad at that.  Plus, to put it bluntly, this industry hasn’t really cared much about forgotten lyrics– I can pull out studio albums from the 1980′s on which our legends completely mumbled through the lyrics, pressed the song to wax anyway, and put it in stores, like “here ya go!!!”  We bought ‘em and they’re “classics” to this day.

LeAndria Johnson – “Speak Lord/God Is Trying To Tell You something”
It was yet another display of LeAndria’s awesome vocal ability. This particular performance was a little more haphazard than her others, but she’s still the one to beat in this competition.  She’s one of those singers to which we inherently pay close attention– always curious to see what the next line is gonna be, how she’s going to deliver the next verse, or what riff she might throw in the next time around.  LeAndria snatches our attention and makes us wait for her every move.  She’s a consummate professional.

Before the judges narrowed the competition from 5 to 3, songstress Lalah Hathaway took to the stage to perform one of my faaaave Phil Collins songs– “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now).”  From tone to delivery, Lalah Hathaway is simply unrivaled, so it’s always great to see her.

At the end of it all, only three could continue to next week– LeAndria Johnson, Elder Goldwire McLendon and Durward Davis.

Last season, I knew who my top two would be, and could even name a favorite to win.  This time, not so much.  In fact, as I type this, I’m realizing that Tiffany was my favorite.  Shucks!

In any case, I’m inclined to say it’ll be down to LeAndria and Elder McLendon, and the public will pick LeAndria when it’s all said and done.  But we’ll see…

What did you think of this week’s episode???

I enjoyed Troy Lilly’s Sunday Best recap so much last week, I figured… let’s give it another go!

So, without any delay, here’s our new BFF Troy…

*     *     *

And then there were five.  Last night on Sunday Best, two more contestants went home, leaving behind season three’s Top 5.  But it had to be the toughest elimination call for the judges thus far.  There was not a single “bad” performance, so their decisions really came down to finite observances of the seven performers.

Regular Judge Tina Campbell of duo Mary Mary returned this week, while Kim Burrell continued to provide pre-performance mentoring behind the scenes.  R&B vocalist Chrisette Michele was the show’s opener, to the surprise of virtually everyone.  Singing Donnie McClurkin’s “Stand,” she put a unique supper club-like spin on the hit.

The focus for the evening was particularly on vocals.  Kirk Franklin announced that night’s theme was “One Mic,” meaning musical accompaniments would be scaled back to emphasize each contestant’s voice.  Here’s the rundown:

Dathan Thigpen – “Friend of God”
During the mentor moment with Kim Burrell, we saw her encourage Dathan to embrace his “performer” side in addition to his “worship” side.  He seemed to explore the stage more than before, but not at the sacrifice of his signature vocals.  He sounded great as usual.  The judges, however, were split.  I’m not sure the upbeat number was the best fit for an evening of more intimate – unplugged if you will – performances.

Tiffany Carlin-Laird – “Goin’ Up Yonder”
Although she sang second, Tiffany really set the tone for the night with her slow simmering delivery of another song made famous by Tramaine Hawkins.  She showed great skill by harnessing her powerhouse voice with precision.  There were opportunities for her to revert to screaming, but she maintained a beautiful tone that showed her versatility.  I absolutely loved it.  The judges did, too.

Durward Davis – “Lean on Me”
Durward pretty much pulled a Tiffany on us.  He guided the audience through the poignant lyrics of Kirk Franklin’s song with a conviction that we saw on his face and heard in his voice.  He also demonstrated precise vocal ability, giving just enough without launching into growl mode.  He’s clearly a seasoned singer knows how minister.  Tina was very concise in her critique and used the word “perfection” to describe his performance.  Kirk said Durward made him want to rewrite the song.

Martha Buries – “Holy, Holy, Holy”

A week after returning to Sunday Best as the wildcard contestant, Martha showed she’s here to stay.  The chopped-and-screwed arrangement of the traditional hymn was risky, but Martha didn’t hold back.  I love that she showed the velvety side of her voice without abandoning her style as a singer.  She was yet another contestant who got the most of her voice by caressing the notes instead of attacking them.  One other observation: it is just me, or does she have a look of sheer terror in her eyes at times?  Homegirl is doing a great job.  Just hope she knows it.

Brian Smith – “Lord I Lift Your Name on High”
I must say that Brian has one of the best voices this season.  And his styling is so unique… kind of contemporary and soulful at the same time.  However, he really needed to knock the judges socks off tonight.  He didn’t really do that until the very end of his song.  Man, Brian is probably the most likeable contestant on the show.  He’s so humble and receptive to all the advice he’s gotten.  At this point, though, I feel the other singers could be performing professionally tomorrow and have eclipsed him.  He still has a bit of artistic growth to do.

LeAndria Johnson – “Endow Me”
The folks at Sunday Best read my mind. I was longing for a Clark Sisters song, and who better to channel all four sisters than LeAndria?  She didn’t tone down her voice at all, but gave me a little Karen, Dorinda and Twinkie in less than two minutes.  She nailed the Karen-like runs, Dorinda’s smoky scat, and belted out Twinkie’s growl in one breath.  This girl can sing an-y-thing.  She received and deserved a standing ovation.  The applause also gave her time to collect herself because she looked like she was about to dance.  Whew.

Elder Goldwire McLendon – “How Great Thou Art”
At age 79, Elder McLendon is as smooth as they come.  He again showed that he’s just a great singer.  I’m impressed by the sound of his voice alone, which made “How Great Thou Art” sound almost operatic.  Then he sealed his fate for sure by ending the song with a sustained note that was simply amazing.  His competition is praying they sound this good in thirty or forty years.  The judges couldn’t help but admire his craft.  Tina said his vocal ability was bananas.

The judges had to make some very difficult eliminations tonight. I personally didn’t want to see anyone go, but I was pretty confident I knew who was going.

So here’s the Top 5:

Tiffany Carlin-Laird
Durward Davis
Martha Buries
LeAndria Johnson
Elder Goldwire McLendon

As for Dathan and Brian, both guys have a future in gospel music.  I’m sure we’ll be hearing from them soon.  But, I also understand why they were eliminated at this stage in the show.

What are you thoughts, people?  Wasn’t this an amazing show?

I’ve been traveling this weekend, so I enlisted the help of one of GospelPundit.com’s newest guest contributors for this week’s recap– Troy Lilly.  You remember Troy’s great work from his recap of Jason Nelson’s live recording a few weeks ago.  Well, he’s back with his perspective on last night’s episode of Sunday Best on BET.  I think it’s both thoughtful and thorough– I feel like I watched it already!  Check it out…

*     *     *

This week ‘s episode of Sunday Best was extra special for two reasons – a wildcard contestant who was sent home last week got a second chance to shine. And the incomparable Kim Burrell dropped in as a guest judge alongside Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams!

So, I was expecting a pretty memorable show.

But when J Moss hit the stage to open the show singing “We Must Praise,” the first single from his 2004 debut album, it seemed Sunday Best had pulled another “throwback” performance out of the hat. Fret not, though, because he quickly snapped back to 2010 with a powerful performance of his latest hit, “Rebuild.” The lyrics in the song are already powerful, but he really sang them – dare I say he was squalling at the end.

The bar was clearly raised for the 10 remaining contestants and there was added pressure since each singer got to choose their song, too. By the end of the night the true artists would stand apart from the rest of the pack.

Brian Smith – “I Won’t Complain”
Dubbed by the Sunday Best judges as Mr. Bowtie, Brian kicked things off with a mid-tempo rendition of the song. The arrangement was refreshing and allowed him to find his sweet spot vocally and command the stage a bit more. Judges agreed and enjoyed his performance and his nice “spirit.”

Orlando Wright – “Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus”
There were signs of trouble with Orlando’s voice in the rehearsal footage. In my opinion, not much changed in his actual performance. He struggled to plant his voice in the melody and sufficed to improvise with plenty of questionable phrasing choices. The judges’ critiques were mostly succinct and vague. ? Hmm…

AND NOW FOR THE WILDCARD contestant…

Martha Buries – “Change”
Martha deserves to be back and she proved it by giving Tramaine Hawkins a run for her money on this traditional rendition of “Change.” In fact, her jazzy chops reminded me a lot of contestant Jessica Reedy from last season. I want to see her move ahead and Yolanda noted, “I knew God wasn’t through with you!” Definitely not.

Franklin Davis IV – “Savior More Than Life to Me”
No one was more disappointed in Franklin’s performance than he was. For all the flair he brings to the stage he wasn’t very sure this time around. Maybe he got nervous singing Kirk’s song in front of him, but then again, he picked it. He’s got the range but didn’t believe what he was singing. Before the judges said a word he was hanging his head.

Dathan Thigpen – “Speak to My Heart”
For Dathan, his song choice – a Donnie McClurkin classic – was a perfect choice. He literally tore it up, especially when he jumped from the bridge to the vamp. That big jump was make or break and Donnie applauded him for pulling it off. Yolanda called him “phenomenal” and Kim said he “exceptionally sang.”

Tawanna Tarvin – “Now Behold The Lamb”
Was Kirk song #2 the charm? Well let’s say it started very strong…maybe a little too strong. Tawanna has quite a range, and she started the song in the rafters and never came down. Her upper register was hurting a bit by the end. But there’s still no doubt she can rip a song apart, she just has to take her time doing it.

Durward Davis – “That’s When You Blessed Me”
Durward took on a big L.A. Mass Choir song, and with amazing background vocalists, he pulled that thing off up in Sunday Best time – and he was so sincere. Tears were welled in his eyes the entire time. Kudos to him for “doing just what he said,” as Kim put it.

LeAndria Johnson – “He Was There All the Time”
Singing a “testimony” song, LeAndria was true to form, which is to say flawless. From beginning to end she delivered. At this point, she’s the one contestant I would say is ready to launch. Stage presence, vocal control and dynamism and anointing. She’s the full package.

David Wilford – “Great is Thy Faithfulness”
David is a very cool dude. And that’s exactly what came across in his performance. To be honest, he kind of had a duet with the saxophone and the arrangement was very mellow, almost soothing. David crooned without missing a note. Somehow I feel he failed to grab the attention of the audience or the judges. It was certainly a safe performance. Sadly, it may have been a forgettable one as well.

Tiffany Carlin-Laird – “I Need Thee”
The judges told her she needed to own the stage and Tiffany ran with their advice. She tackled the traditional hymn with fervor, showing she could be soft and still pack a nice growl, too. I hope she continues to mature and grow comfortable with her gift.

Elder Goldwire McLendon – “Yes, Jesus Loves Me”
When I watch Elder McLendon all I can think is “oil”. There is oil all over him. Even before he opened his mouth to sing, he ushered in the Presence of God. We already know he can sing in the purest sense of the word, so what’s more intriguing is the way his singing changes the atmosphere. The audience (and judges) couldn’t contain the power that followed Elder McLendon’s performance. He literally shouted off the stage.

But in the end, only 7 contestants remained.
The Top 7:
Brian Smith
LeAndria Johnson
Elder Goldwire McLendon
Martha Buries (Wildcard)
Tiffany Carlin-Laird
Dathan Thigpen
Durward Davis

For once I agree totally with the cuts from the lineup. The remaining contestants have a certain degree of artistry. They are no longer just singing songs, but they have a unique style and approach to singing that is distinguishable. A few can still benefit from the professional mentoring. For the most part, though, they’ve got “it.”

By the way, this episode got me thinking: I would love for Kim Burrell to open the show at least once before the season is over.

Now what did you really think?

*     *     *

Well, shooooooooot… I guess I’ll start by saying I think that’s a dope recap!

Then, I’ll add that I am quite pleased with the top 7– these would probably have been my choices, too, even from the week before.  I would have loved to see David Wilford progress through the competition a bit more, but I’ll have to see the performance footage from last night.

So, like Troy asked, what did you really think?

Yesterday, BET’s Sunday Best transitioned from auditions to competition in the anticipated first-week of vocal throwdowns.  This week, 10 of the 20 finalists were commissioned to sing songs recorded by judges Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams.

Before they got started, though, the show opened with a nice medley of “Are You Listening” (Kirk Franklin’s Haiti Relief song) and Donnie McClurkin’s “Ooh Child.”  The former featured vocal performances from McClurkin, Isaac Carree, Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell and Tina Campbell. The performance also included the contestants singing BGVs.

The end of the show, albeit incredibly short, featured Y’Anna Crawley singing her new single, “Grandma’s Hands.”  She looked and sounded great, but I wish it hadn’t been cut short… even Y’Anna expressed some initial shock over it on her Twitter page.  Seems to me, they coulda cut out some of the choir oohin’ and aahin’ at the top of the show…

Oh, and I’d be lyin’ if I said I didn’t miss Erica Campbell at the judges’ table.  Yolanda’s doing a good job, but I miss the innate chemistry between Erica & Tina.

Okay, on to my competition commentaries:

Jonte Thomas – “Just A Prayer Away”
I loved the jazzy arrangement of this tune. It’s one of my faves from Yolanda, so I wouldn’t encourage anyone to touch it, but Jonte did it well. She’ll have to demonstrate more of her own unique style to stand against some of the other competitors, but she’s got the chops, for sure.

LeAndria Johnson – “In The Midst Of It All”
That woman is just dope and we all know it.  Not only did she demolish her vocal like a seasoned professional, she was believable and captivating because of her passion and delivery.  She’s a natural at this and she just flat-out SINGS.

Robert Hatcher - “What About The Children?”
He’s got a great, clear tone with an old-skool crooner richness to it. The performance was a little too ‘Barry Manilow‘ to me, but he’s got a great voice– I wanna hear more from him.  Hopefully, we’ll get to see more of his style come out on the next song he does.

Tawanna Tarvin – “I’ll Trust You”
In my opinion, it was a bad song choice.  And I don’t say that because she can’t do it, but because time restrictions made her draw the song to a climax before we knew it was coming.  Donnie finessed that song so that, by the time it reached its peak, we were drawn in and ready to go.  Tawanna’s arrangement (not her fault, in my opinion) did not allow for that build-up, so it felt kinda Broadway-ish.

Davon Fleming – “We Fall Down”
Dude is kinda fresh to me.  He needs to know when to blaze with the falsetto and when to leave it in the natural (so, he’ll also have to pay attention to the lower register so that he has control of his tricks down there, too), but I really like him.  And that says a lot because I don’t EVER want to hear anyone but Donnie McClurkin sing “We Fall Down” (I think few can do it well)– he’s got potential, for sure.

Quiana Pettigrew – “Great Is Your Mercy”
I think I wasn’t a fan of the arrangement. It had a bossa nova vibe to it, but it didn’t lend itself to showcasing her vocals well.  I’m sure she can do it, but the arrangement made it tough to work it.  The vocal was a bit unfocused and, though she can definitely sing, I don’t know that she knew what to do with the song.

Franklin Davis – “I Believe I Can Fly”
Again, wasn’t too thrilled with it, but I believe it was because of the urban/Caribbean arrangement that they put on the song.  It kinda distracted me from what he was doing, which is unfortunate because I can recall the odd musical arrangement better than I can recall his vocal performance.  That’s not good.

Funmi Oduyemi – “Open My Heart”
It was just not okay.  But it’s not her fault, exclusively.  We pulled a Nigerian singer to the States, expecting her to sing in a way that would appeal to the U.S. gospel industry and the musical palettes within it.  If it were an easy task, someone would have done it by now.  I think it’s a tall order and she just didn’t measure up on this one.  But she’s got a great spirit and demeanor– I really do want the best for her.  I just don’t think it’s in the U.S. gospel marketplace.

Durward Davis – “Victory Chant”
This was a hard song to sing in terms of showcasing one’s talent– it’s really a call-and-response praise & worship song, which wouldn’t be an obvious choice for a vocal competition.  That said, he did a VERY good job of delivering it… so much so that I wanted him to keep going!  I liked Durward’s performance a lot.  Definitely wanna see more.

Elder Goldwire McLendon – “The Battle Is The Lord’s”
Aaaaand I’m SOLD.  I don’t think I need to see this through– he’s my pick.  He’s who I want an album from.  Someone else can give one, too, but I want Elder McLendon’s ministry in the mix right now.  He’s got a Pop Winans kind of vibe to him that is endearing and familiar… I want him to be a part of the fabric of our industry.  I want him to impart into the younger generation.  I want him to… I enjoyed him.  Thoroughly.

And that’s THAT.  Okay, folks… lemme know what you thought of the show and lemme know what you think of my recap.  You think it’s baloney, don’t you?  No, wait… you wholeheartedly agree, don’t you?

Talk to me!

I told you earlier that you’d be hearing from Troy Lilly soon.  His first contribution to GospelPundit.com is invaluable– he attended and recapped Pastor Jason Nelson’s live recording this past Friday and did a great job.  Without any delay, here’s Troy (with some GREAT photos at the end)–

*     *     *

You haven’t been to a recording until you’ve had the Pastor Jason Nelson experience!  He’s a multi-talented triple threat: a singer, songwriter and guitarist – plus he can preach.

I first witnessed his amazing gift and unyielding anointing five years ago at the live recording for his I Shall Live project. Needless to say, it wasn’t simply a recording.

The same was true on April 23rd as Nelson recorded his latest project, Shifting the Atmosphere, at his home church, Greater Bethlehem Temple in Baltimore. After being introduced by his twin brother, super-producer and writer Jonathan Nelson, Pastor Nelson quickly set an expectation for corporate praise and worship saying, “I can’t do recordings. This thing is participatory!”

And with that, the experience began. Upbeat opening numbers “Year of Jubilee” and “Favor” got the entire house on our feet and kept us there, incorporating Jason’s signature progressive sound with lyrics pulled straight from scripture.

But the trademark of Jason’s ministry is unadulterated worship. For the aptly-titled duet “No Words,” he welcomed fellow guitarist and vocalist Leon Timbo, who Jason said he admires for his ability to “come in and change the atmosphere.” Together, they did just that. Jason and Leon’s voices blended as harmoniously as their instruments, moving us through the first of many “shifts” that night.

During this segment, Jason guided us through several more moments of intimate worship with songs like “Don’t Count Me Out,” “I’m Nothing Without You” and “Shifting the Atmosphere.” This is when the pastor gift in Jason came forth. He delayed moving on to the next songs to minister.

“Whenever we encounter the presence of God we realize how insignificant we are without him,” he said, refusing to rush the flow of the Spirit.

With the final set of songs, the atmosphere naturaly shifted to flat-out praise. “There Is Power in His Name,” brought out the old-fashioned foot-stomping, because like Jason said, “you can’t have a recording without church!”

By the end of “There Is Power…” another shift had taken place and before we knew it Pastor Nelson’s father, Bishop James Nelson, was handed the microphone. Bishop Nelson exhorted us until the fire came down!

For just a few moments, I had to excuse my assignment as writer and photographer for GP so I could join in.

From that point we moved to a place of declaration. “You No Longer Have Dominion over Me” spoke directly to the strongholds we face in life, while the final song, “I Survived,” proclaimed victory over life itself.

I spotted and spoke with a number of special guests including Antoine Spence, Pastor L. Spenser Smith, Amos Saint Jean, Lil’ Mo and Jessica Greene, each of whom have a high regard for  Jason.

Pastor Jason Nelson is one of the most humble and selfless ministers in gospel music. It doesn’t hurt that he can sing pretty much anyone under a pew, and preach. With his latest forthcoming release, Shifting the Atmosphere, he is sure to do a little of both.

*     *     *

Okay, first of all– I think Troy did an excellent job recapping that recording, so PLEASE let him know what you thought of that write-up.  And if you’re on Twitter, follow him at http://www.twitter.com/UrbanSophistic.

Second of all, I’m DEEPLY annoyed that I missed it cuz it sounds like it was incredible.  It’s no secret that Jason Nelson is one of my favorite vocalists… *kickin’ myself with a hard shoe on*

Talk to me, folks– you looking forward to the new album?  Anyone else attend that can echo Troy’s sentiments?

If you read my post yesterday, you know that I really wasn’t sure that I’d watch Sunday’s episode of Sunday Best.  I kinda felt like, with these audition cities, if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ‘em all.

But, after a lil’ convincing from you good people, my interest was piqued and I went ahead and watched.  And I have to agree with you– it may have been one of their best episodes to date.

I think the judges in New Orleans– Erica & Tina Campbell and Donnie McClurkin– were hilarious, as usual.  For me, it’s about comedic timing and delivery and few can time and deliver better than Tina.  Favorite lines from her were her reference to the “fast forward ministry” and “I’ma have to go with the ‘no’ on the ‘sing somethin’ else’.”

I can’t believe that New Orleans has better singers than every other city, so I’m gonna go ahead and say that the edits were dope.  We got to see some great talent this time around, but my favorites were LeAndria Johnson (“This Is The Day”), Tiffany Carlin-Laird (“I Know I’ve Been Changed”), and Jonte Thomas (“For Every Mountain”).

Your top 20 contestants for this season of Sunday Best are:

Lamesha “Mesie” Augustine | Indianapolis, IN
Martha Buries | Friendswood, TX
Tiffany Carlin-Laird | Baton Rouge, LA
Franklin Davis | New Orleans, LA
Durward Davis | Tulsa, OK
Brittney Dear | Madison, MS
Bethany Divine | Maumelle, AR
Davon Fleming | Baltimore, MD
Robert Hatcher | Cincinnati, OH
LeAndria Johnson | Ocoee, FL
Elder Goldwire McLendon | Philadelphia, PA
Funmi Oduyemi | Lagos, Nigeria
Vernell Payton | New Orleans, LA
Quiana Pettigrew | Cleveland, OH
Brian Smith | Chicago, IL
Tawanna Tarvin | Monroe, LA
Dathan Thigpen | Ridgeland, MS
Jonte Thomas | New Orleans, LA
David E. Wilford | Millsboro, DE
Orlando D. Wright | Cincinnati, OH

For the second season straight, industry peeps have just casually spilled the Sunday Best beans about the tapings– who’s been moving forward and who’s gone home.  They don’t intend to ruin things for me… they just wanna talk.

In any event, I’ll not be so cruel to you.  Tell me who your favorites are!