Elder Randall Ogans - What A Friend
Christian/Gospel, Jazz, R&B
California, United States
Overall Impression: Soothing souls with smoothly satisfying skill, Elder Randall Ogans delivers a fresh glimpse into the healing capacities of a familiar hymn with his rendition of "What a Friend"! Beginning with a single piano and a striking but subtle sense of motion, "What A Friend" soon transforms into a rich harmonic tapestry - ushering listeners into a peace beyond understanding with sweetly soaring organ tones and a groove that doesn't quit!
Strongest Point(s): Each and every moment of Elder Ogans' "What A Friend" carries its own strength and style - creating a composite experience just bursting with musicality! The decision to begin with intimate keys and a subtly grooving pass at the familiar hymn pays off brilliantly, with the transition into fuller instrumental support at 1:01 landing perfectly and segueing easily into the more percussive feel at 1:48. Excellent work from the bass player throughout, easily finding that supportively understated tone and a prominent place in the pocket. Likewise, Elder Ogans' relationship to the pocket is equally as impressive, keeping it tucked in through the simple revelation of the hymn's most recognizable melody at 3:46 and subsequently expanding into an impressive solo sequence. Playful passing of the spotlight back and forth between keys keeps things grooving along and leaves listeners feeling refreshed and revitalized. Really stellar work!
Target Audience Appeal: While believers will find themselves immediately connected to the hymn that inspired this jam, the musical passion of Elder Randall Ogans stands to mesmerize listeners from any background - especially those who appreciate skillful organ work and soulful Jazz inflections! Full of surprises and bound to improve any mood, Elder Randall Ogans' take on "What A Friend" will have listeners of all kinds on the lookout for even more to come from the seasoned songsmith! - Jon W.
Artist target suggestions: Bobby Felder and Friends, Sam Levine, Todd Johnson, Kristin Korb, Larry W. White, Danny Sobaje, Christian Jazz Artists Network, David Arivett, Discovery Jazz Ensemble, Guillermo Guzman, Phillip Keveren, Dominion Jazz Players, James Morrison, JuJu Song, Network Music Ensemble, Andy Joshua, Alexis Cruz, Jerry R Zellers
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About the Reviewer:
Jon Wright is a trained multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music educator with nearly twenty years of experience in the field. Working with musicians and their individual sounds is his passion and profession, and he strives to interact with and understand every aspect of the production process - from theory and songwriting to recording and mastering. He continues to teach students of all ages and is currently collaborating with artists across a wide range of genres.