print: GOSPEL MUSIC REVIEW: Awesome (Voices Of Promise) | July, 2007 on BlackGospel.com

Voices Of Promise / Awesome
(IMOK Gospel)

July, 2007 on BlackGospel.com - Review by jennifer belot

Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready? All the way from New York’s borough of churches…in their debut album recording…put your hands together for THE VOICES OF PROMISE!!!!!!!!!!!! It may seem over the top as introductions go, but there seems to be no other way to present this dynamic group of youngsters who poured their spirits, hearts and sanctified souls into AWESOME, their inaugural album release on IMOK Gospel Music label.

Borne of an evangelistic revival at their home church, St. Mary Church of God in Christ in Brooklyn, NY, these youth grew in spiritual stature and grace and soon found that their love of God and each other had evolved into frequent congregations around the piano. What started out as innocent musical fellowship, quickly grew into a secret project to record a single as a surprise gift to their beloved pastor, which eventually burgeoned into a full fledged live recording at Calvary Baptist Church in Red Hook, NJ.

This project is a New York musician’s dream as Brooklyn’s best come together around The Voices of Promise with their aces in hand. The band features some of the most talented musicians this side of the Atlantic with not only Butch Heyward, James Hall and Melvin Crispell offering important contributions, but also underground supermen such as Martin Christie who produced the project together with executive producers Jonathan Hall and Rev. David Butler. Other notables include bassist Dwayne Wright, whose name alone should set bells off in your head because he is the son of New York’s godfather of gospel, the incomparable Rev. Timothy Wright. He is joined on the bass by “New York workhorse” Justin Cunningham. Percussions are manned by the rhythmic ministrations of Stephen Hall, young drumming sensation Isaiah Johnson and Eddie Heyward while the brassy punctuations of the horns section is brought home by Craig Crawford and his boys.

Upon initial audition of the heavy instrumentation of Time is Moving, any gospel music connoisseur will hear the familiar musical overtones of the inimitable pairing of James Hall and Melvin Crispell as “The Professor” penned the piece accompanied by long-time collaborator Crispell on the organ. The same musical heritage emerges in A Wonderful Change, a number which aptly captures the youthfulness of The Voices of Promise as Crispell makes another appearance as both songwriter and musician.

He’s Coming Again is a rootsy, rhythmic, beautiful and blessed tune (I found myself humming it on the elevator) dominated by John Smith’s electrifying guitar, def drumbeats, hallow arrangements of adoration, and the choir joyfully singing of the Advent.

With a voice that sounds like a familiar pop sensation, Tristan Crishon-Wright carries the lead of Trust In Him alongside super-soprano Brianna Turner-Fields who joins him on the bridge in effortless fervor.

Jonathan Hall, puts NYC on notice as to his talents as a songwriter showing his versatility by exploring different styles with seasoned ingenuity. I’ll Reign With Him is a departure from the conventional kinetic New York sound as it incorporates the hand-clapping double-timed beat of the Southern Baptist tradition in an up-tempo number. In an oxymoronic twist, What You Need is a quieter creation from the songwriter’s pen featuring Naomi Braodus’ jazzy alto on lead and the choir’s musical director Joe Thompson, in a soulful opening solo on the organ that would have Crispell raise an eyebrow in admiration. By contrast Looking For a Cloud has the makings of a Broadway lullaby as the The Voices exhibit vocal dynamism and impressive vocal control.

Perhaps the standout track of the album, Written by Butch Heyward, Stand By Me deservedly receives honorable mention by virtue of the stellar cast of ministers who lend their talents to this piece. It seems as though the entire Brook-city band came out in full force for this one: On percussions is my ever-smiling church brother Tarence Farrell while multi-talented choir president, Tristan Crishon-Wright shows off his prowess on the bass alongside Melvin Crispell on keys. The melodic music flows like milk and honey, as Brianna Fields-Turner turns out the track with her effervescent vocals that will have you standing by her side, cheering her along on her solo.

Brooklyn in definitely in the holy house on Awesome; this traditional praise and worship hymn is given a double-dose of church praise, Brooklyn-style. The title track which oddly enough appears at the very end of the album is not content to just call God “awesome” but goes on to expound on the reasons for His greatness in a quintessential Brooklyn basement groove. And watch out with the re-praise because The Voices really give it their all, ending on all cylinders with a euphoric, style praise to punctuate who they’re called to be – The Voices Of Promise. For truly, “Our God is an AWESOME God!!!!”