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Verbal Contact - The Trinity Within Me

On a drive to Manhattan I popped in "The Trinity Within Me" by Verbal Contact. The first track set the tone for a continuous message of strength in Christ and scripture allowing the love and power of Christ to make you fearless in the face of the world. I was very impressed with the application of scripture aimed directly to the listener with track 6 - Mathew 27 3:8 relating to "Blood Money", track 11 - Jeremiah 17:9 cautioning on the perils of following "The Heart" and "Do for your brothers" in track 15 - Mathew 25 31:40. The content of this CD becomes much more than what was expected largely due to the direct application of scripture as it relates to this world in a context that brings home the lesson and intent of the original passages. Being bold in their presentation and subject matter allows for the opportunity to address issues that face all of us in a society that glamorizes materialism and sex. "Jesus" opens with the realization that modesty in dress is absent in society and has infiltrated the church creating an environment that can distract from the worship of the lord. "A Prison Prayer" deals with the harsh realism of confinement and every track ties in the need for faith in the holy trinity.

Throughout this project you will find quality work that incorporates a number of musical influences and performance styles. I can only imagine the power and energy that would accompany this material in a live performance. With a total of 18 tracks, there is sure to be something for everyone.

As stated on the Verbal Contact MySpace page : www.MySpace.com/VerbalContact "Verbal Contact is a Hip-Hop/Rap group whose lyrics give glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. In doing so we gain interest from all ages and receive approval from fans young and old. V.C. provides enough energy and realness that we have garnered the respect of the church as well as the streets. Verbal Contact delivers clean hard real lyrics so the streets can feel Christian music as well. We feel it is part of our mission to get the message of God to the world. Verbal Contact has a unique sound and style. V.C. tries to mimic no one. By having a universal sound, people from all over the world can relate to their sound and feel them as well. V.C, listens to all styles of music. From old school r&b, r&b, rock, jazz, blues, country, and yes most of all gospel. By being so diverse, V.C. has earned a lot of respect and recognition. V.C's credits include but not limited to, Performing at the "2002 Winter Olympics," in Salt Lake City, Utah. We performed in front of over 10,000 people at the Pepsi Dome. We were also finalist in the 1999 MTV/Loud Records Ultimate Hip-Hop Talent Search. We held a winning spot at the 2001 N.A.C.A. National Main Stage Act; at the Opera land Hotel in Nashville, TN in front of 6,000 people. Verbal Contact also won The Best Hip-hop/Rap group award at the Midwest Entertainment Awards, in 2004. Verbal Contact has worked with Russell Simmons and the Hip-Hop Summit to get youth and minorities to vote. Also B.C. Before knowing Christ V.C. held their own on stages with mainstream artist such as Big Daddy Kayne, Jahiem, Rick James, Eddie Money, E-40 and many others. Now V.C. message is only for serving God and have held stages with LeCrae, Mark J, S.O.C.O.M, Tonex, and many others. With the recent released their c.d. titled "The Trinity Within Me." We ask that you please support Verbal Contact and purchase their CD. TO PURCHASE "The Trinity in Me" Contact: Lokjaw Music Group LLC P.O. Box 10073 Kansas City, Mo.64171 To Book a Verbal Contact email your request to: MelloVManagement@yahoo.com" Updates on their tour schedule can be found on King Cat Music www.KingCatMusic.com as well as their MySpace page www.MySpace.com/VerbalContact Please look for and support "The Trinity Within Me" found on their website.
by Bob Hill, posted 2008-02-06 12:00:00

Kenny Gamble "Coffee Talk"

Coffee Talk is Kenny's first solo project. This CD follows a big-budget project incorporating the Music Department from his church entitled "Antioch Live" in which Kenny wrote the majority of the songs as well as sang on the project. He scales down Coffee Talk with a more acoustic tone and makes it exactly what his title references - songs that are great for personal, more intimate settings such as sitting down with a cup of coffee and talking. He starts off with a nice upbeat tune entitled "Because You Love Me." This tune gets your head nodding right away. He continues this feeling with "Do I Really Trust You At All?" Kenny really dives into some deep issues with this song talking about how we say we trust God, but when life gets in the way, do we really? Make sure you check out "Where U R 2." This is a beautiful ballad, which simply says 'I may not know where I'm supposed to go or what I'm supposed to do, but I want to be where you are Lord.' What a great prayer. "Mercy Song" is another beautiful ballad that has some awesome harmonies in it. You've got to give "Heritage" a listen to. The first few measures you might be tempted to forward on to another track, but don't. I actually think this is my favorite tune. It is comprised of many, many words to old hymns that he has interspersed with his own words and music. It's a great reminder of the songs that we have grown up with, and we don't want to forget to pass them on to the next generation. I'm so impressed with Kenny's songwriting ability. I can't wait to hear more.
by DeAnne Arnold, posted 2007-11-07 13:48:00

Kenny Gamble "Antioch Worship Live"

It's always wonderful and inspiring to hear an entire church engaged in worship of their God and this album did not disappoint in that respect. The sound quality was crisp and clear, the instruments did not cover each other and, something which I liked very much about this album, ALL OF THE LYRICS WERE ORIGINAL!! I do not use exclamation points very often but that fact alone deserved two of them. Bravo to Kenny Gamble, Kevin Seaton and Mike Hudson for their unwillingness to simply re-sing the rest of classic worship today. The change was very refreshing. And this is a side note but the album cover rocked. Kudos to whomever came up with that. Moving on to the songs Antioch has stuck very closely to the tried and true worship formula. Nothing that was very original on the worship scene stuck out to me with the exception of two songs; (5) "Jesus, You Alone" and (8) "Like you." The hope, longing, passion and obvious desire in these two songs helped to inspire me in my own walk with God. Overall, a solid worship album for fans of Dennis Jernigan and the like.
by James Edington, posted 2007-11-07 13:45:00

Second Mile "Self-Titled"

In their self-titled debut CD, Second Mile has proven themselves a contending group. The gospel/spiritual melodies that fill this CD show off the talent of the musicians performing them, especially some of the guitar licks and bass melodies. Danny Firestone really shines on this record as a bassist. Although primarily instrumental, the band's vocals can't be left out. Lead singer Chris Mull has a voice I would describe as "comforting", which is perfect for the tone of this album. The melodies, some of which adapt old hymns to a modern feel, are the sort of music that makes great ambient music in car CD players or home stereo systems. The CD may not be what you are expecting, if you've never heard the sound of Second Mile before, but it may well turn out to be a favorite CD in your collection. Second Mile's unique combination of blues, jazz, and timeless religious hymns combines to create a special musical experience.
by Beth Carpenter, posted 2007-11-07 13:18:00

Soul "Soul'd Out"

Soul gets us groovin' right away with his first cut, "Serious." You find your head nodding, your foot tapping and your body swaying. But it's more than just great music and harmonies. His words are heartfelt and sincere wanting people to know the saving grace of Jesus and how "serious" he is about serving Christ. He keeps us groovin' with his second cut, "The Way it Should Be" talking about the way many people end up living their lives and how we "should be" living our lives. "Tell Me the Truth" once again delivers a beat that keeps you moving while telling us a story from the perspective of a seeker who needs to be told the truth about where his life may be heading and what Jesus is all about. This is a wake up call to all of us to be bold in sharing the gospel. "Created Me to Praise" is a beautiful ballad, which brings a new flavor to Soul's project and shows the depth of his creativity and ability. He has such a versatile voice that he could hold his own in almost any genre he wanted to write or sing in. He follows this with "Don't Worry," a message that we all want to take to heart and hold on to. Another wonderful ballad and my favorite tune on this project is "Right Here With Me." He chose to simplify the background music using only keyboards and bass along with background vocals to enhance the melody and lyrics really giving this song a unique sound within the overall project. He ends his first project with a prayer called "Lord Don't Leave Me Alone." This is a great first project from this artist. I've seen him live and you won't want to miss his music.
by DeAnne Arnold, posted 2007-11-07 13:15:00

Stan Pollmann "Look Up"

Stan Pollmann's Look Up grabs you right from the start with his title track "Look Up" bringing your focus immediately onto the Lord. And it doesn't stop. "Rise and Walk" immediately catches your attention with a great bass line and awesome hook that compels you to sing along. His "Just Say No" continues to carry you along on a 60ish style song that you can't help but nod your head along with. Stan's heart can truly be heard in a nice, melodic ballad "Close to You". But don't get too mellow, because he brings you back to your feet on "King of the Jungle". You won't want to miss the flamenco-style guitar work on "The Final Outcome". Awesome guitar work, Stan! From the beginning song "Look Up" to the end song "Jacob's Match" which is a wonderful up-beat instrumental song, this album will keep your head moving and your heart singing along with Stan. His musical ability, his knowledge of the Bible and his passion for God shine through.
by DeAnne Arnold, posted 2007-11-07 13:09:00

Brenda Meyers "Hope For A Miracle"

Hope for a Miracle is a CD filled with folk music by Brenda Meyer and is dedicated to her grandchild, Gage. The CD starts out with a loving song from the baby's perspective asking his mother not to give up. I like this song because it brings the pro-life issue so close to home. God has a purpose for every life. The next song is a very precious song called "Just Smile." I love it!!! It is sung by a child and backed up by Brenda doing harmonies. This song could most certainly cross over any age range. The next song moves into a minor key in "Hope For A Miracle." This song I think is the most folk sounding song of the whole project. The CD gets a bit more upbeat with "The Dream Maker" which is about how God makes our dreams come true. I love this because God gives us our dreams, is the maker of dreams, and just because we have medical problems of any kind he has dreams for us and will make those dreams come true too. Track 9, "Meet Me in My Dreams" is another song about dreams. You can really tell that Brenda is a fun spirit in this CD - a person that is definitely a dreamer and a truly fun person. The CD ends with "A Real Good Day" which is a tender song also from the perspective of the baby. This is an endearing song that will truly touch your heart. If you like lullabies and a great story of how life goes on through hard times and bad you will love this CD.
by Connie Whitlock, posted 2007-11-07 13:07:00

Young Harmony "Covered"

If you like Southern Gospel, you'll love Young Harmony comprised of Johnathan and Ginger Bond. Their CD, "Covered" is a great example of what Southern Gospel should be. They start your toes tapping right away with "He's On Time". You find yourself wanting to clap your hands and sing right along with them. They continue that energy through "Give A Little Love" and into "Just A Matter Of Time." One thing I appreciate about this project is it is not just music. This project is ministry. The next track they titled "God Answers Prayers" with Johnathan telling an experience they had while traveling. This is a very moving story, which then transitions into the powerful ballad "God Has Not Forgotten You." This song is a wonderful promise to help you through those times when you wonder where God is. After leading you to the heart of God for a while, they lighten the mood back up with "Just Another Day". One of my favorite tunes on this project is the song "Feels So Good To Be Saved." You can just tell Johnathan and Ginger enjoy having fun and singing crowd-pleasing songs. They end with "Can The World See Jesus In You" a compelling song, which leads people to ask themselves if they portray Jesus to other people. I really enjoy the whole project in every aspect. Their vocals are great, instrumentation is excellent and their spirit of ministry is conveyed even through a CD. They have a wonderful ministry and I'm sure your church would enjoy having them in for a concert.
by DeAnne Arnold, posted 2007-11-07 12:50:00

Bob Jenkins - Flying Sheep

Bob Jenkins "We know Jesus, he is a great shepard, he leads us here on earth to pastures green," pair these first words of Bob Jenkins' album, Flying Sheep, with some soft, melodic, folk music and "look out heaven," you've just had your first taste of his flowing, intoxicatingly delicious music. If you have ever been in the mood for folk music, this album will surely hit the spot. Mr. Jenkins has successfully blended catchy tunes, endearing lyrics and a sweet love for Jesus to produce this special sound. I savored the sounds of the acoustic guitar, especially in songs like "You Know," which also offers a bit of violin, but it is all played in a way that sounded to me like a babbling brook, the guitar offering up it's own praises, it's own love of the Lord with every twinge of the strings. This album was made for fans of the acoustic guitar, his talent here is so strong, so apparent. Yet, Bob Jenkins voice is a perfect match for the sweet strings that roll the melody through you. He sings out of true inspiration, you can feel it, you can sense it clearly. One song that jumps out at me in this way is "New Star" in which you know he is singing directly to the Lord, and we have been fortunate enough to listen in. Here Bob says "there is no ocean I won't cross, there is no mountain I won't climb, there is no desert I won't walk to keep you by my side." That's something rare I think, to be able to sit in on a man's truest prayers, his sweetest devotional to the Lord, and be able to hear the love in his voice. I can only say how blessed I feel to have been able to somehow share in this experience, how thankful I am at his moment to know God's love. There are as many different types of music in this world as there are people, some good, some bad, but all of them longing, reaching out to touch us in some way, yearning for someone to listen. I believe God is listening to this Flying Sheep cd, I believe Bob Jenkins is listening back, and I believe if you listen in, you too can catch a glimpse of the shining devotion that is truly present here.
by Janie Schiltz, posted 2007-11-07 12:02:00

I Witness "20/20"

I Witness is a refreshing change of pace to contemporary Christian music. This three-person band gives us a unique, acoustic sound. The majority of their songs are strictly delivered with guitar, drums and vocals. From time to time vocalist, Andi Doughty, will jump in on keyboards giving a new dimension to their sound. What is evident immediately from the start with the songs "Choices" and "Just Knowing" is the pure vocals of Doughty. This girl can sing! "Refuge" is definitely one of my favorites on this project. Through studio production, they have layered Doughty's vocals giving a great worship song. "Never Let There be a Day" gives us a great jazzy feel that gets your head nodding. They've added a live version of their song "Freedom" which continues along the jazzy/bluesy theme. Then the group changes it up somewhat on "Separate" by having Bob Hill switch over to bass guitar and Doughty on keyboards along with Scott Fredrickson on drums. Again they've added layers of vocals on this song, which shows great versatility on the recording. This does make it hard to reproduce in a live setting. This is a solid freshman project for I Witness and I look forward to watching them grow in their ministry.
by DeAnne Arnold, posted 2007-10-07 14:22:00

J. Brian Hill - Life, Love & Worship

If you like worship music, you'll love J. Brian Hill's "Life, Love & Worship" project. He brings you immediately into praising God with his upbeat song "Your Love Is Higher." Song after song Brian delivers strong vocals along with great production. I'm very impressed with the quality of this project. His ballad "Source of My Strength" is particularly moving. I found myself singing along with Brian agreeing with him that I will put my trust in God. Great song, Brian! For "In Your Presence" Brian brought in Candy Kless to sing a duet with him. This is a very nice song and adds nice variety to the project. "Pour Out" is an awesome song! I can definitely see praise teams all over the country singing this one. He ends the project on the great upbeat song "Walkin' With Jesus." Once again his song brings you into a praise and worship experience compelling you to keep "walkin' with Jesus." Overall this is a really solid project from Brian.
by DeAnne Arnold, posted 2007-02-15 11:12:00

Christopher Ames - Believing Beyond The Shadows

The new release "Believing Beyond The Shadows" by Christopher Ames is an unplugged version of his tunes. The CD starts off with an easy going song called "Kyrie". The songs on the CD tell stories of our on going life with God. It is refreshingly interesting. Chris is an excellent songwriter, his lyrics are more than just a pop hook but it brings the listener on a journey, almost creating a movie picture from beginning to end. In the song "Ready to Go" Chris talks about how we get comfortable in this life way too much and longs to have the heart for everlasting life and heaven. I like this song because we tend to have our eyes way too much on this life and not looking forward to the the journey to eternity. The next song too touched my heart, Remnant", God is looking for the remnant. He talks about people that are really dedicated to the call of God. Ones that have truly laid their lives down, loves God, and loves each other. Wow! I love this song. Then the song moves into an upbeat song with a sweet title, called "Bilbo and the Boys". This is a great cd of a variety of types of music. Chris has great vocals and guitar work is fun.
by Connie Whitlock, posted 2007-02-15 11:08:00

Christopher Ames - Officially Unauthorized Bootleg

You'll want to pick up a copy of Christopher Ames' "Officially Unauthorized Bootleg" CD. This project was recorded live at the Coffee Grove in Grove City, PA. This is a totally acoustic project showcasing Christopher's awesome talent not only vocally, but instrumentally as well. He grabs your attention right away starting out the project with an a cappella version of "The Lord's Prayer" going immediately into "Feeble Yes." This song talks about with all God's holiness and majesty He still pursue us, people who are sinful, and all we can give Him in return is our feeble "yes." He then leads right into "Our Little Boy" which is every parent's prayer on raising their kids to follow Jesus. Both of these songs are great toe tappers as well as many of the songs on this project. Christopher weaves from song to song so skillfully mixing a variety of styles and tempos from contemporary to blues to instrumentals. His ballad "Prayer For You" is beautiful which again speaks to so many people. He even brings his own sense of humor into this recording with his song "Revenge of the Pinata People." All I can say is, you've got to hear it to believe it! Christopher keeps his audience, both live and listening to the recording, engaged in his music. They identify, clap along, laugh and greatly enjoy his music - and so did I. I think you'll enjoy it too.
by DeAnne Arnold, posted 2007-02-15 11:05:00

Ron Richards - The Pursuit

This mellow acoustic guitar CD, The Pursuit, by Ron Richards brings you through a journey of original and cover tunes that will satisfy anyone who has a love for guitar music.
Ron brings acoustic rock and folk music to a beautiful place in this new collection of music. This new all-instrumental CD opens up with “Taking It To the Streets,� an easy-going relaxing
cover song originally written by Michael McDonald that shows off his gentle picking action and precise timing. I really appreciated hearing such a good guitar player play. The album picks up the beat in the next song “Play That Funky Music White Boy,� written by Robert W. Parissi, as Ron shows that he can also be energetic and upbeat.
The whole CD ranges from mellow to hopping and stays fresh. His intricate yet gently rolling picking seems to paint pictures in your mind of beautiful, peaceful settings. It’s very clear which songs the covers are and the listener is drawn in to almost a sing-along even though there are no voice tracks.
This is definitely a professional and relaxing album that anyone loving guitar music would love to have in their CD collection.
by Connie Whitlock, posted 2007-00-00 12:00:00