My Everything

Oakland and the surrounding Bay Area have been wellsprings of contemporary gospel music for decades, and De-Ann (pronounced Dionn) Lott is among the artists who are helping the area maintain its well-deserved reputation.

Lott’s forthcoming CD, Return to the Center, is produced by Jamie Walter Hawkins of the Bay Area’s famed Hawkins Family. Lott has toured and recorded with Bishop Walter Hawkins as well as with Berkeley’s Daryl Coley, but this is her first solo project.

In true California fashion, Lott’s music – previewed via a limited edition pre-release sampler – is bright and bubbly, friendly and accessible, energetic and joyous. The musicians are marvelous and provide steady support without overpowering the vocalist. Lott and Hawkins wrote all of the songs on the sampler. 

While the fresh-sounding title track and “Worthy to be Praised” are the first single releases, TBGB prefers “Faith” because it is a simmering, straight-ahead, traditional-leaning gospel ballad with bluesy twists and interjections. One can only imagine that it makes for an outstanding live performance.

Lott’s years of apprenticeship as a background vocalist for sacred and pop artists have produced a singer of tremendous promise. Return to the Center includes the sampler singles mentioned above as well as several new songs, all bathed partially or completely in the smooth, body-swaying California inspirational sound. The new tracks include the Latin-influenced “My Everything” and “Spirit of the Living God,” the latter resplendent with haunting Afro-Caribbean harmonies.

Particularly noteworthy is “Top of Your Mountain.” Jamie Hawkins’ stylish piano work, Lott’s duet with silky vocalist Titus Starks, and the stirring lyrics give the song crossover potential. On Deniece Williams’ “Amazing,” Lott hits even more stratospheric notes than usual.

Jamie and Sunny Hawkins gave generously of their skills both behind the scenes and in front of the microphone. To my ears, “Faith” remains the album’s piece de resistance because it channels the Hawkins Family magic, from the temperature-raising dynamics to the bluesy grace notes that Lott lofts to the heavens.

Four of Five Stars

gPod Picks: “Faith,” “Amazing,” “Top of Your Mountain.”

Reviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.