Come Sunday

Description

Come Sunday is the fourth album by the American contemporary gospel/jazz duo Allen & Allen, released on CGI Records 1996, distributed by Polygram Group Distribution. The album was produced by Allen & Allen.

Compare the covers of Allen & Allen’s ‘Come Sunday’ and the 1994 release ‘Allen and Allen’, and you’ll understand a little of the duo’s musical progression. The earlier release features a pair of handsome, suit and tie-clad gentlemen beside their respective instruments. The new album has a couple of tougher, hipper guys in a more urban setting, sporting shades and stylishly casual duds. Since it’s hard to know what lies inside the jewel case, the photo helps.

But rather than simply judging a book by its cover, know that Allen & Allen’s ‘Come Sunday’ is a tasty album of urban grooves and light jazz fusion, split about equally between vocals and instrumentals.

Allen & Allen are Bruce Allen (keyboards) and Allen T.D. Wiggins (saxophone). Together with their talented band of singers and players, they have crafted the kind of album that can play continuously in the background, as well as more focused foreground listening.

There are a couple of featured guests vocalists on a few tracks: the title tune, the classic Duke Ellington song «Come Sunday», boasts the impeccable, impassioned vocals of Daryl Coley. It’s less traditional than the version Donna McElroy released six years ago, but is sure to please fans of the song. Albertina Walker is the other big name guest vocalist, and she helps push «You Don’t Know What the Lord has Done for Me» into the stratosphere. It is a fabulous jazz arrangement that needs to be heard on general market jazz formats.

Looking for something with a little more urban/gospel vibe? Allen & Allen has got you covered. Check out the subdued and smooth rap on «Higher», and the mass choir-like chorus. «Trouble Don’t Last Always» smokes with Bruce Allen’s funky organ and a great ad-lib from Lee Hardemon.

What makes this a little different than other similar urban releases is the wonderfully creative arrangements, also attributable to this talented duo. They mix telemetry sounds, house grooves, reggae vocalizations, B-3 organ and a host of percussion sequences into a very classy whole that is sure to please fans of both urban and jazz. [Scott Thunder, CCM, November 1996]

The sticker on the front bears the legend, “The Inspirational Jazz duo of the year” and this is not mere hyperbole but rather a sound judgment of a highly talented couple of guys! Bruce V Allen and Allen T Wiggins mix elements of jazz, funk, urban soul, rap and gospel and it comes up sounding sensational! Fresh, creative and exciting and a million miles away from the ear candy of so many Christian releases. This has attitude and bounces out of your speakers demanding respect! Jazzy piano from Bruce and the sassiest sax from Allen mean that there really is a jazz funk heaven. Sometimes mellow and beautiful as on «Tears Of Joy», sometimes loud ‘n’ proud as on the funk workout «Higher». Daryl Coley lends his awesome vocal chords to the project on the slow brooding funk of «Come Sunday» and the legendary Albertina Walker tosses in some harmonies and bvs on the big band tinted «You Don’t Know» which swings, man! Possibly the coolest release of 1996, if you like all things jazzy then you have just got to wrap your lugs round this wonderful album. Let’s hope CGI get UK – representation soon. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, October 1996]

> iTunes

CD tracklist:

01. Rap Intro – 0:10
02. Trouble Don’t Last Always – 3:44
03. Come Sunday – 4:21
04. You Made It Right – 4:59
05. You Don’t Know What the Lord Has Done for Me – 4:25
06. Higher – 5:12
07. Picked Me Up – 3:22
08. Tears of Joy – 4:26
09. God’s Speed – 3:06
10. Lay It to Rest – 4:11
11. Holy Medley: Holy, Holy, Holy/Great Is Thy Faithfulness – 4:12
12. Trouble Don’t Last Always [No Rap] – 3:51

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by CGI Records.

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