::ALBUM REVIEW::

Make no mistake about it. DeNetria Champ, the newborn baby of the JDI music empire, is a very great replica of the Queen of Soul; Aretha Franklin. And while it isn't a good thing to grow too attached to such a musical influence, it is pretty impressive and refreshing to hear Aretha's voice, in its most perfected glory, on a full-length album anytime. So there's a lot to compliment about Champ's debut offering, "I Really Love You".

Veteran JDI producer Jason White provides a similar texture and production value found on previous albums from Norman Hutchins, Kurt Carr and Chester T.D. Baldwin that he's worked on. He also recruits the strengths of the "A" Team and Jonathan Grier & the Voices of Judah to provide background vocals, along with a few guest musicians such as Jimmy Neuble (bass) and Teddy Campbell (drums).

"I Really Love You" spins with a comfortable mix of traditional gospel churchy numbers, a few contemporary episodes and the occasional praise-and-worship ballad. Things heat up easily from the album's opening with the album's biggest soulful heavy hitter; "Go On Through It". There are a number of similarities with Kevin Bond's "In The Midst Of It All", but the song is a brilliant whirlwind of excitement for listeners especially since Vanessa Bell-Armstrong climbs on board making it even more difficult to distinguish one from another. Traditional gospel remains dominant here with the inclusions of the Southern soul found in "When God Gets Through" and the "Denetria's Church Medley". The latter paints a resounding portrait with its sanctimonious vibes and emotional acoustic piano build-ups captured easily by Jason White. The medley floats through snippets of songs including "No, Not One", "God Will Take Care Of You" and "The Lord's Prayer". You almost feel as if this is a Thomas Whitfield/Vanessa Bell-Armstrong revisit or an unreleased track from the archives of Mahalia Jackson or Aretha Franklin. Towards the end of the number, you can hear how important of an influence the Queen of Soul is on Champ's vocal skills with her shivering vocal effects and casual climbs and drops in her crescendo. The title cut, co-written by White and Tony Jones, is a worthy addition to the mix with its laid-back worship posture and adult-contemporary foundation.

There's even a touch of safe contemporary funk captured on the groovy "Can't Forget" and the house-oriented rework of "Say The Word". Of course this is a rendition taken from the underground JDI album release from the Benedict Gospel Choir. The original is more groove-oriented and musically balanced, but this remake comes in at a close second. An inclusion of "Silent Night", one of the powerful offerings found on the popular Norman Hutchins & JDI Christmas project, is also captured here.

Even though "I Really Love You" packs some nifty accomplishments and the right ingredients for a solo debut, it's hard to overlook the shortness of running time and lack of song selections. Take away the opener preview, the extended mix of the title cut and the irritating JDI Sampler towards the end that is strongly aimed for a radio plug or a potential infomercial and you have a disappointing total of eight tracks. It feels as if JDI's projects are deliberately getting shorter from one album to the next. But DeNetria "Aretha" Champ is a solid, accomplished vocalist filled with lots of stylish definition and shines strongly on Jason White's sound and material; proving that she has earned a solemn place in the hearts of gospel listeners and serious Aretha acolytes.