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4G2G: SECOND CHANCES HOMEPAGE
By Bill Ellis
ellis@gomemphis.com
August 9, 2003
Hot Sounds: The New Olivet Sanctuary Choir, '4 God 2 God: 2nd Chances'
4 God 2 God: 2nd Chances
The New Olivet Sanctuary Choir
Olive Recording Company
People get reborn all the time, but choirs?
That's what it feels like listening to the Sanctuary Choir of New Olivet
Baptist Church.
As good as the ensemble's 2002 effort, "4 God 2 God," was, nothing
prepares you for how far they've come in one year as witnessed on the
sequel, "4 God 2 God: 2nd Chances."
Where singing may have been rough in places before, now it is smooth as
silk. More important, the gospel group has settled into its own sound, a
vocal niche that's sophisticated, jazzy and highly moving (listen to their
stirring tutti swells on A Call to Worship).
The group retains its love for a variety of song settings, most written by
the choir's minister of music Allen F. Todd II, musical director Adrian
Davis and church leader pastor Kenneth T. Whalum Jr.
The diverse material asks the choir to stride in syncopated fervor on Let
Everything That Hath Breath Praise the Lord, get down with bluesy
earthiness on Oh Give Thanks and sway with Latino-pop craft on Christ Will
Lift You Up, all without losing the music's spiritual center.
Soloists are frequently inspired, from Pamela Conard on the funky number
Praise the Lord Everybody to bassist Myron Motley's rousing testifying on
The Solid Rock. Among many highlights is Kenneth T. Whalum himself on The
Best Thing and its reprise, the great Rev's Rap, which also has a cameo by
the preacher's brother, jazz saxophone star Kirk Whalum.
And hats off to the choir's fine accompanists, a driving, virtuosic band
that sports tremendous drummer Stanley Randolph and a hot horn section.
In a city of many impressive choirs, this impassioned assembly is quickly
adding its name to the list.
The New Olivet Sanctuary Choir performed at 3-5 p.m.
on August 9th at Tower Records-Video in Peabody Place. and WAS OFF THE
HOOK (Website Editorial License :-) )
4G2G : SECOND CHANCES HOMEPAGE
NEW OLIVET HOMEPAGE |
