Richard Smallwood - The Praise & Worship Songs Of Richard Smallwood

Reviewed by Simon Eden

To the forefront of an orchestral strings ensemble fly a host of angelic contemporary ballet dancers, followed by a choral assembly backed by a contemporary band, only to be followed by the unassuming Mozart of Traditional Gospel who is Richard Smallwood. This is American razzmatazz mixed with the humility of church ministry, wrapped up in the packaging of classic Pentecostal Gospel. Even the audience played their part with the fashion parade of massive colourful hats that would put Ascot to shame. This is a collection of some of the best songs such as "Angels" and "My Everything" as written and arranged by a Lionel Ritchie look-alike with a peculiar taste in metallic purple or electric blue suits, as performed to three exclusively black American churches, in Washington DC, Atlanta, and Detroit. For much of the time, Smallwood acts as conductor to his spectacle, with momentary control of the microphone, and much of the time playing an imposing grand piano with jazzy finesse. The vocal soloists each had enough power to compete with a foghorn, and enough exuberant energy to power Manhattan on a cold day, but didn't maintain it. The concert opens and closes with a blast, but is calmer in between such that I was dancing along at first only to be falling asleep later. The word "praise" is mentioned five times in the titles of 14 tracks which basically sums things up.