You know it’s the place to be… it just is. Lol

Urban Soul Cafe returns to Stellar Awards weekend with its annual “Access Granted” event, featuring some of the greatest gospel artists in the game. It’s got three events over the course of the weekend!

During that time, Dorinda Clark Cole and the Rance Allen Group will be honored with Lifetime Achievement awards, while Kim Burrell is receiving an Artist of the Year award. Plus, you’ll get live appearances from just about every artist that comes to Nashville, including Marvin Sapp, Myron Butler, Canton Jones, Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Shirley Murdock and more.

For a complete list of events, visit http://urbansoulcafe.com.

Le’Andria Johnson continues to sit at #1 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart this week, with Jessica Reedy again following at #2, this week followed by Kirk Franklin’s Hello Fear.

The complete Top 10 this week:

1 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
2 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
3 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
4 | Lecrae – Rehab
5 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
6 | 116 Clique – Man Up
8 | CoCo Brother – Gospel Mix V
7 | WOW Gospel 2011
9 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
10 | Andraé Crouch – The Journey

New releases this week came from Kierra Sheard, Micah Stampley, Sounds of Blackness and Shirley Murdock. I’m expecting to see some new entries to the chart next week!

Shirley Murdock’s new album, The Journey, is a 17-track collection of music with an underlying theme of encouragement running through them. It’s solid, though perhaps not astounding, as a demonstration of great vocals and heartfelt ministry.

With Grammy Award winner Cedric Thompson at the helm of production (Donald Lawrence,Karen Clark Sheard, LeJuene Thompson), The Journey is the culmination of the first live recording of Murdock’s career. And it’s packed with powerhouse vocals from favorites in gospel and mainstream music, including Kelly Price, Beverly Crawford and Regina Belle.

Standout tracks on The Journey include the urban soul-tinged groove “It’s In Your Hands,” ”Upward Way” featuring Regina Belle, and “Lord You Reign,” a building and beautiful worship chorus.

Also, look out for “He Is the Rock,” on which Beverly Crawford outright shines with Murdock, the piano-driven “Keep Lovin’ Me,” which features the incomparable Kelly Price on guest vocals, and the project’s inspiring first single, “Dream.”

Given her success as a touring mainstream artist, it seems that a live set like this would’ve come earlier. Murdock is a natural as she interacts with the audience. Her sweet and genuine personality translates beautifully to this album and leaves you just plain old enjoying her.

My only qualms with the project are that some of the songwriting could have been a bit stronger and, at the height of some of the singers’ ranges, there was audio distortion in the mix. Still, Murdock’s vocals do a great job of making a lot of the songs work well and it’s a pretty good offering.

The Journey hits stores on October 18, 2011 (Tyscot Records), but you can listen and pre-order it right now, right here–

Tyscot artist Shirley Murdock will record her first live CD/DVD project on April 28, 2011 in Charlotte, NC (location TBD).

Word has it that the evening will feature special guest artists… should be a great time.

Visit http://www.tyscot.com for updates!

I have this little rule: no Christmas music before Thanksgiving. So, when Turkey Day is over, I’m never too devastated– some of the greatest, most nostalgic music in my collection can finally be played for the next month.

I cannot possibly share it all with you, but over the next four weeks, I’m gonna try my absolute best. All of the folks won’t be gospel artists, but they’re singing about the birth of the King, so… yeah.

Up first is Kelly Price. She released her Christmas album One Family: A Christmas Album in 2001.  She’s got some great arrangements of classic songs, plus some good original ones.

She also enlists the help of Mary Mary, Kirk Whalum, Donnie McClurkin, BeBe Winans, Shirley Murdock, the Williams Brothers and Wynonna Judd, among others.  One of my favorite tracks is “Silent Night,” arranged by Donald Lawrence (which, incidentally, I first fell in love with back in 1991, when Stephanie Mills recorded the same version on her Christmas album).  Also worthy of mention is “In Love at Christmas,” the churchy “O Come All Ye Faithful” and her rock/gospel version of “Go Tell It,” especially the vamp.

For those of you who haven’t been impressed with the lackluster holiday offerings of most current artists, do yourself a favor and add a new favorite to your collection.  It’s an instant classic.

Listen to (and prolly fall in love with) “Silent Night”:

Well???