Yolanda Adams Live in Concert - An Unforgettable Evening
Lordy lordy, there is some serious testifying going on here. What's more, the titles ("Let Us Worship Him," "Just a Prayer Away," "The Battle Is the Lord's"), the setting (a Washington, D.C. church), and the febrile audience response leave no doubt that Yolanda Adams is a gospel singer. But this two-hour program (including interviews that can be viewed separately) has a decidedly contemporary feel. The music has the sound of commercial R&B; or smooth jazz; the influence of artists like Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway is readily apparent; there are costume changes and a light show; there's even a video (for "Gotta Have Love") that can only be described as hip-hop. That's not to say that Adams plans to go the route traveled by Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and others who made the transition from the pew to the pop charts. But one thing is certain: this ain't your grandmother's church music. Glory hallelujah!--Sam Graham