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Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis

EPM Music Group (2012)

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.

Memphis gave the world two of gospel’s greatest songwriters—Lucie Campbell and Rev. W.H. Brewster. Early gospel-promoting pastors Rev. Clarence H. Cobbs of First Church of Deliverance and Bishop William Roberts lived in Memphis before migrating to Chicago. Cassietta George and the Songbirds of the South, Gospel Four, Southern Sons, the Church of God in Christ, Earnest Pugh…the list goes on.

Recently signed to Pugh’s EPM Music Group label, Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis are also natives of the Bluff City, and it is where they recorded their first national project: Live in Memphis.

Tharpe came up with the idea to form his own gospel group after directing the Voices of Harambee at Craigmont High School in Memphis. The word “kenosis” comes from Philippians 2:5-8, describing Jesus’ uncloaking his divinity to identify with mankind. The choir Kenosis comes from the harmonically dense, passionate, and ozone layer-puncturing sound made popular by Ricky Dillard and another Memphis homeboy, the late O’Landa Draper.

Nowhere is Kenosis’ skill more liberally applied on Live in Memphis than on “Teach Me,” where they team with Same Seed to deliver a dramatic choral ballad. The praise outing “Mighty God” benefits from superb hard shouting on the vamp from Vincent’s sister, Venissia. Michelle Prather cameos on the gentle praise ballad, “You Are God,” and the fiery Benita Washington takes charge on “He Will.”

Although the hard-charging “Thank You Lord” is the current single (check out the video below), to my ears the sacred love song, “Close To You,” has more radio appeal because of its memorable, relaxed, sing along sensibility. Nothing like a bouncy, wordless chorus to get an audience to participate.

“He Keeps Blessing” is an entire gospel song propelled by a praise break tempo and barrelhouse piano riffs that evoke the early work of Thomas A. Dorsey.

Live in Memphis brims with the youthful and extroverted blend that defines today’s gospel chorus. O’Landa would be pleased.

2012-11-16 19:40:24

Source: http://www.theblackgospelblog.com/2012/11/vincent-tharpe-kenosis-live-in-memphis.html