::ALBUM REVIEW::
by J Matthew Cobb
Posted: June 5, 2009

The legacy of Bishop Gilbert E. Patterson not only left a major imprint on the Church of God in Christ, but also on the face of gospel music. Throughout his career as a trail blazing preacher of the gospel, he made his share of rounds in gospel music; even starting up his own record label towards the last decade of his life. That label was able to release two Grammy-nominated projects with Patterson stepping forward from the pulpit as an artist with a heart for traditional gospel music. His thriving Memphis church remained a popular hub for gospel recordings of Kim Burrell, Myrna Summers, Rev. Timothy Wright and Lee Williams & the Spiritual Q.C’s. Because of his life, popular organist and producer Moses Tyson, Jr. assembled a strong cast of respected individuals to pay their respects to the beloved pastor who passed away in 2007 from a severe bout with cancer. Stretching across two discs, this labor of love called The Gospel Music Celebration Pt. 1: Tribute to Bishop G.E. Patterson contains live performances from Temple of Deliverance COGIC - Patterson’s church home - and recalls a few songs that easily became signature songs in his musical repertoire. And has the disc’s title mentions: this is only the first segment.

Dottie Peoples kicks things off with a churchy, synth-driven “Oh Lord Stop By Here.” The song, layered with Peoples’ gravely Baptist outbursts and thunderous choir responses, parades a bit longer than expected with its repetitive vamp but effectively opens the album on a highly memorable note. Rev. Rance Allen walks through James Cleveland’s “I Stood on the Banks of Jordan” and Pastor Marvin L. Winans gives new life to the simple congregational chorus “I Feel Like Going On.” But the album’s greatest achievement is Walter Hawkins welcoming presence on a warm rendition of “What Is This” and Rev. Frank E. Ray’s spunky workout on the Herbert Brewster classic “Move Upstairs.” Sure, Beverly Crawford’s take on “Deliver My Soul” is sure to gain serious attention, but the arrangement doesn’t match the stamina of the original. When Tiffany Tyson cuts into a subtle, spiritless version of Jessy Dixon’s “Redeemed,” Celebration Pt. 1 gets lost in the motions and finds it hard to pick up the pace. Congregational singing marks the last half of the disc and best sums up the Patterson legacy. Bishop Darrell Hines, with his convincing ad-libs and R&B executions, does a great job mending “You Won’t Leave Here Like You Came” with “Jesus on the Inside” and may be the album’s last hurray.

The second disc is not even worth mentioning since it only bears a lackluster three tracks; clocking at eighteen minutes in total time length. One track features a charismatic devotional from Willie J. Campbell, who gloats about being Patterson’s best friend and leads the congregation through a name-it-and-claim-it prayer that takes much of the focus away from the album’s purpose. One of the other tracks is a promotional spot addressing the availability of the second installment of the Patterson tribute. Interesting, didn’t know the immediate public was hungry for album infomercials.

Not sure if Vol. 2 will be able to deliver a healthy and complimentary finale’ to the first installment, especially since a thinner list of surprise guests from the late Rev. Timothy Wright, Bishop Albert Jamison, Rev. Ruby Terry and Edwin Hawkins are expected, but Vol. 1 just might be the most rewarding of them all. But the album runs into a few disappointing setbacks along the way - from its overhaul of lengthy tracks to its lack of power-packed moments to the disappointing companion disc. Still, it stands as the only available tribute to Patterson - which makes it a definite keepsake for devoted COGIC members.