Search - Delores Mom Winans :: Hymns From My Heart

Sophisticated, Uptown, Mature Jazzy Gospel

Bill Carpenter | Washington, DC United States | 10/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Close your eyes. Imagine someone with the technical skills of Ella Fitzgerald, the dry tone of a Sarah Vaughan and the smoothness of Rosemary Clooney. Now, imagine this same voice singing gospel hymns and standards with swing-style and verve and you have Mom Winans' second solo cd - her first since 1999. It's awesome from start to finish. The matriarch of the Winans gospel dynasty easily shows where the family inherited their considerable vocal talents. Her warm alto just floats and bounces over these cleverly-arranged tunes. For instance, "Blessed Assurance" and "Love Lifted Me" both have a smooth jazz slickness to them. "It Took A Miracle" and "Jesus is All the World to Me/No One Ever Cared for Me" have a Hollywood musical production quality to them - very refreshing for gospel music which is often relegated to the most minimal instrumentation. There's down-home churchy songs such as "Glory to His Name", "He'll Understand and Say Well Done", and "God Giveth More Grace." There's duets with Jason Crabb on "Oh I Want to See Him" and Pop Winans on "Precious Lord." It's a phenomenal recording and Dana Reed did a fine job as producer. It's highly recommended!"