Months and months ago, I told you guys that Kirk Whalum was getting ready to release the 3rd volume of his oh-so-incredible gospel jazz collection, The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter III.  Well, the time has come– look for it on March 16th.

I’m so excited, I kinda don’t know what to do with myself. LOL

I already featured volumes 1 and 2 as part of the Slept On series, telling you that Whalum featured phenomenal musicians like George Duke and Jonathan Butler, and superb vocalists like Kevin Whalum, Kim Burrell and Táta Vega.

Well, chapter 3 promises to be just as good, with great musicianship and vocals, AGAIN. I’m particularly excited about a reworking of the Luther Vandross hit “Make Me A Believer,” a duet between Kevin Whalum (saw him live a few weeks ago… he’s so gifted, it’s almost unfair) and the incomparable Lalah Hathaway.

Check out the full promo trailer for the album:

Get your pennies, nickels and dimes together, folks… you WANT this album!

Who’s buyin’???

Only one friend of mine has ever been able to demonstrate that they know as much about this album as I do.  And it kinda shocks me cuz it had all the right ingredients for a hit record.

Released in 1994 on GospoCentric, Personal Inspirations is the debut gospel album from Stephanie Mills.  No novice to performance (she was the original “Dorothy” in The Wiz on Broadway and had a wildly successful R&B career), she recorded this project LIVE.  On production?  None other than Donald Lawrence, her long-time musical director.  On background vocals?  The Tri-City Singers.

I won’t say that I adore every track– some are simply nostalgic at this point.  But there’s no denying that she’s got some real gems on this project.  From the album’s opener, “I Had A Talk With God,” to her cover of The Caravans’ ”Sweepin’ Through The City,” Stephanie Mills demonstrates that she’s no outsider to the gospel genre.

My favorite track on the project is “He Cares,” written by John P. Kee (and, on which, he makes a guest appearance).  It’s classic.  As if it weren’t enough on its own, she does a reprise of it and grabs Arnetta Murrill-Crooms (remember her lead vocal on Tri-City’s “I Am God”?) from among the background vocalists… beautiful.

Other stand-outs for me is her remake of the Winans’ classic “Everything You Touch,” “Everybody Ought To Know,” “I’m Gonna Make You Proud,” and the gospel version of her own R&B hit, “Power Of Love,” re-titled “Power Of God.”

I’m not saying that it should’ve been #1 on Billboard for a year.  But I am saying that it was good initial effort, with great production, nice songs and arrangements…

I couldn’t find many clips online from the project, so bear with me on the YouTube video below (audio only). And also, click here to hear that reprise of “He Cares” (the person disabled embedding, so I couldn’t post that video).

Whatd’ya think???

Many folks anticipated a solo project from Monique Walker while she was still killin’ leads with Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. Years later, she gives it and what did y’all do?  Slept On it.

Well, I didn’t!  The project was released last year and I still listen to it on the regular. Any Monique Walker fan would be super duper thrilled about her debut solo project, My Genesis.  She provides a variety of musical styles, from praise & worship to churchy ballads, and even some great urban stuff.  With production from heavy-hitters like Kevin Bond, Steven Ford, Fred Jerkins and Cedric Thompson, the album is masterfully crafted and well-done.

The single, “Crazy Praise,” didn’t get nearly enough play at radio, in my opinion.  Other fave tracks for me are “Psalm 61,” “Tried In The Fire,” “Starting Over,” “Right Now” (wowwww), “Greatest Gift,” and “I Can Make It.”

Here’s a video of her singing “Tried In The Fire,” on TBN. Watch… it’ll bless ya:

Do you have this album?  Did you sleep on it?  Talk to me!

I think folks kinda Slept On this album and I’m humbly urging you to reconsider.

The McClurkin Project released We Praise You, their sophomore album, in 2006.  The family group included Donnie McClurkin and his sisters Tanya McClurkin, Cheri McClurkin, Andrea Mellini, and the late, never EVER to be forgotten, Olivia McClurkin.  Long-time family friend Carol Carter is also a member of the group.

Their sound was incredibly reminiscent of the Hawkins family– that tight-knit sound with rich background vocals and memorable leads.  I love just about every track on this album, with my faves being “We Praise You,” written and led by Andrea Mellini, “I Am Your Servant Lord,” “If You’re Ever Feeling Lonely,” and ”Precious Lord,” led by Olivia McClurkin.

And who can deny the incredible imagery and power in the instant classic “As Long As There’s You” led by Andrea, Olivia and Donnie?!  Listen to a snippet of that here:

Also, watch this video clip of Andrea leading the album’s single, “We Praise You,” at the live recording:

Who has the album?  Who decided to pass on it?  Why?  Talk to me!

I think folks might have slept on the Feels Good album from Take 6.  So, here’s my humble attempt to wake you up…

I don’t think I’m being dramatic when I say that Take 6 is one of the most gifted groups to ever enter the music industry, period.  And this album was in keeping with that reality.

Feels Good was released in 2006 and featured GREAT hits like the jazzy “Just In Time,” the more urban “More Than Ever” and “Feels Good,” and an incredibly powerful a cappella remake of the classic Twila Paris cut “Lamb Of God.”  They also re-made the Andraé Crouch hit “This Is Another Day,” and did it JUSTICE.

I was gonna embed a link to the audio, but I figured I may as well embed a VIDEO of them singing on TBN a while back. Trust me, what they do on this stage sounds PRECISELY like the album, cuz they’re dope like that. Here’s “Come On Everybody”:

And just cuz I NEED you to pay attention, here’s “Lamb Of God” at the same live performance. WOWWW:

Do you have the album?  Do you love it?  Did you pass on it?  If so, why?

Holla at me!

Some folks in gospel were skeptical of Michelle Williams when she entered the industry solo– she was at the height of success with Destiny’s Child, and folks kinda gave her the side-eye when she said she was doing a solo album, and that it would be a gospel project.  But whatever.  I knew a Jewish girl in college who loved Michelle because of Destiny’s Child… she bought the GOSPEL album in week one, telling me how much she enjoyed the uplifting lyrics, asking me if all gospel was this good.  Score one for the Kingdom!

In any case, THIS WOMAN has some GREAT albums with great songwriting and production… I started typing this post to talk about her sophomore gospel project, Do You Know, but as I worked on it, I thought “nah, they need to go back to the BEGINNING.”

(Still check out Do You Know, though… it features production and songwriting from Tommy Sims, PAJAM, Dawkins & Dawkins, Cedric & Victor Caldwell, and a BUNCH of other musical heavyweights.  INCREDIBLY slept on.)

In 2002, Michelle Williams entered the gospel industry with her debut project, Heart To Yours.  It peaked at #1 on Billboard’s gospel chart, #3 on the Christian chart, and featured the popular single “Heard A Word.”

But the album was FULL of hits, in my opinion.  Let’s start with the guest spots:  Mary Mary joined her on the infectious “So Glad,” Shirley Caesar on the downright churchy “Steal Away,” Men Of Standard on the ain’t-no-joke worship ballad “You Care For Me,” and Carl Thomas on her remake of the classic BeBe & CeCe hit “Heaven.”

Lest anyone think that she thrives only when other vocalists join her, though, lemme tell ya: she absolutely holds her own.  From the BANGIN’ track “Rock With Me,” to the feel-good “Sun Will Shine Again” (pay special attention to the intricate background vocals on that one), to the head-bopping ”Everything” (check the bgv’s on that one, too).  People, I mean it: this album plays well straight through, from beginning to end.

For your listening pleasure and musical conversion, TWO tracks– “So Glad” feat. Mary Mary and “Sun Will Shine Again”:

Aight, fess up, folks.  Who slept on it and why?  Who owns it and knows what I’m talkin’ about?! Anybody gonna check it out now?

Talk to me!

I’ve been listening to Jonathan Butler since I was a kid (I still sing his hit single, “Lies,” like it’s CURRENT R&B).  Anyway, most of the gospel community was decades late to the party, only appreciating him when he did “Falling In Love With Jesus.”  Still, better late than never.

Which is why I need to highlight that we prolly Slept On his most recent gospel album, Brand New Day.  It was released in 2007, but it didn’t get nearly enough recognition, in my book. The album is just great music– great singing, songwriting, arrangements and musicianship. It’s got an acoustic/jazz vibe to it and I reeeeaaally enjoy it.

Here’s the title cut, “Brand New Day,” a jazzy track with an infectious drive… LOVE it:

And this, “You Are My Everything,” is a beautiful worship song. Just very well-done…

Who has it already?  Who passed on it and why?  Who wants it NOW?!

Holla at me!

Oh, and there’s talk that a compilation greatest hits project is soon comin’ from him…

This project was Virtue’s last on Verity, but it’s definitely my favorite from them.  And I think almost EVERYBODY Slept On it.

I actually wrote a review for this album at NuthinButGospel.com when it came out in 2003.  I mentioned that I hadn’t been a huge fan of Virtue before, but that THIS album had me talking about them nonstop.  From the vocals, to the production and songwriting, the project is on point and I STILL play it like it just came out.

Production on this one came from PAJAM and Asaph Ward, among others.  Standout tracks for me are “Thankful,” “You’ll Win If You Try,” “Worthy,” “Lord, I Lift My Hands,” “Open Arms,” “Nothing Else I Can Do”… I could go on and on.

I couldn’t embed the full songs from this project, so I’m giving ya two 30-second clips–”Lord, I Lift My Hands” and “Thankful.”  But I reeeaaallly want you to buy this album and listen to the whole thing, cuz… my goodness.

By the way, Karima’s solo project is soon-coming and it sounds goooood. I’ma do a post about it soon.

In the meantime, FESS UP! Who Slept On it? Who has it? Do you love it? Talk to me!

It’s no secret that the women of Zie’l are vocal powerhouses.  They have great voices and use intricate harmonies, which explains why they’re so frequently compared to the Clark Sisters and the Pace Sisters.  But I think those comparisons can also serve to limit them.

I don’t think they’ve really received the recognition that they deserve (yet), and I may have to feature their album as part of the Slept On series…

In the meantime, check out what happens when Larry Robinson (GospelSingingOnTheSpot.com) gets the ladies of Zie’l (minus one in this particular video) to give an impromptu performance… niiiiiiiiiice!

What do you think???

Both of Kirk Whalum’s offerings under the Gospel According To Jazz title are incredible, must-have additions to your music collection.  And I think folks kinda Slept On both of ‘em.

The Gospel According To Jazz: Chapter 1 was saxophonist Kirk Whalum’s first in this series, but he didn’t hold back AT ALL.  His band featured some jazz greats, including keyboard legend George Duke.  Stand-out tracks for me on this album are “In All The Earth,” “Blessed Assurance,” and “Where He Leads Me”– the full song AND its reprise. 

Later came The Gospel According To Jazz: Chapter 2, which was JUST as phenomenal, featuring some vocal heavy-hitters like Tata Vega and Jonathan Butler.  Stand-out tracks on that project include “Falling In Love With Jesus” (your praise team was singin’ it like crazy, but you didn’t buy the album?!), “Spirit Medley,” and the love song “The Moment I Prayed,” a duet featuring Kim Burrell and Kirk’s brother, Kevin Whalum.

Oh, and while you’re rushing NOW to purchase the first two albums, you can buy the limited pre-release of The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter 3, a DOUBLE DISC CD/DVD featuring another stellar band (including George Duke) AND Lalah Hathaway. For more info: http://www.kirkwhalum.com/.

Who has Chapters 1 and 2 already?  Who slept?  Who’s buyin’ NOW?  Anyone already got the pre-release?  Lemme know!!!