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 Download from:  New Britain Boogie is my latest solo piano recording. This CD collects thirteen familiar hymns and original compositions.Song titles include: "Blueberry Jam," "A Shuffle With Grace," "O Jesus, I Have Promised," "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms," "Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know," "It Is Well With My Soul," "Just A Closer Walk With Thee," "Just As I Am," "Blackberry Jam," "New Britain Boogie," "Wednesday Suite" (Recitation, Rendition, and Reflection) "A Shuffle With Grace" and "New Britain Boogie" are variations on the melody most commonly associated with John Newton's lyric, "Amazing Grace." "Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know" and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" are arrangements for four hands at one piano. I recorded this version of "Just As I Am" several years ago on my first solo piano release. The chord progression is considerably different from the original and the melody develops at a slower pace than you might expect. I arranged this version of "It Is Well With My Soul" around 1987 when I was doing my undergraduate work at Gardner-Webb University and playing with a local gospel group called Share. "Blueberry Jam" and "Blackberry Jam" are genuine jams. I had no precise ideas about what I was going to play when I hit Record. I recorded one take of each that ran for several minutes, then edited each one down to the final version. The final three moody selections are part of my "Wednesday Suite." It was nearly twenty years ago that I composed the final movement ("Reflection"), and probably five to ten years ago that I put the finishing touches on the other two. Here are samples from ten of the thirteen tracks: 
Order The eBook: My book is available both in paperback and eBook PDF formats. Acrobat Reader is required to view the eBook.Click HERE to buy the eBook online from Kagi.com. The price for the eBook is $12.99, with free electronic delivery via email as soon as I receive notice that your payment has been made to Kagi. Order The "Real" Book: If you prefer a copy you can physically hold in your hands, you can order my book from Amazon.com. (Amazon's price is $15.99. You can get free "Super Saver" shipping terms from Amazon if you buy $25 or more in qualifying products.) Click HERE to order. Description: Murray's Encyclopedia Of Southern Gospel Music is my first book. The book is 170 pages in paperback or eBook PDF formats. Southern Gospel music has a rich heritage spanning 100 years. From the Vaughan quartets that originated in 1910 to the diverse array of artists that travel the concert circuit today, this message driven music has endured while other styles have come and gone. For the first time, the history of Southern Gospel has been compiled in an encyclopedia format. This book covers everything from little known trivia to detailed biographies about the most influential characters who shaped the Southern Gospel landscape. --David Bruce Murray
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Featured Review
Producer: Arthur Rice
Song Titles: "I Will Trade The Old Cross For A Crown," "Things That I'm Seeing," "Greater Miracle," "I'm Going There," "He'll Never Forsake," "I'll See You Home," "Tell Me Who," "Whenever, Wherever, Whatever," "Take A Little Look," "Celebrating Resurrection Morning," and "Hallelujah For The Cross"
Turning Point begins with a borrowed arrangement of "I Will Trade The Old Cross For A Crown." Cross 4 Crowns does the arrangement justice, but they don't top the 2003 version by the "Mark Lowry Vocal Band" (Some Things Never Change). Fortunately, the rest of Turning Point is more original.
"Things That I'm Seeing" is a remake of a forgotten Kingsmen song from thirty years ago. Cross 4 Crowns has taken a polished, clinical approach to this up-tempo, traditional quartet number.
"You may wonder why He's never removed this trial you're going through. He may have a greater miracle for you." That's the message of "Greater Miracle," a song written by Rodney Griffin that features lead singer Davis McCammon, Jr.
I'm not entirely sure what's up with the mix on "I'm Going There." It's not that it's bad, but something about the first verse sounds artificial to my ears. After that, it's fine. Maybe it's just the blend in that particular key. This is another upbeat song in a traditional style. After the final key change, bass singer Justin Terry hits a low G-flat and then does it two more times to prove it isn't a fluke. I read Terry's bio and learned that he had no significant experience singing until three years ago. Watch this guy. He's 24.
"He'll Never Forsake" is written by Ricky Atkinson. Electric piano and guitar provide the foundation for this arrangement.
Dixie Echoes fans will be happy to hear Dallas Rogers singing tenor again. Dallas is featured on "I'll See You Home," a mid-tempo Country style cut written by Ann Ballard. With a vocal tone that's been compared to Archie Watkins, I like the way Rogers' allows his vowels to dominate his lines. The result is a fuller sounding delivery than Watkins offers.
Justin Terry sounds a lot like Jeff Chapman on "Tell Me Who." The delta-blues inspired track suits his vocal style on this Dianne Wilkinson song. Unfortunately, Wilkinson's first and last names are BOTH spelled wrong in the CD booklet. :o(
Fake strings and brass are a bit obvious on "Whenever, Wherever, Whatever." The lyric by Marty Funderburk and Don West has a good, potentially memorable hook, but the arrangement is somewhat blah. More rhythmic variety would have helped. As it stands, straight eighth notes in three-quarter time dominate the vocals.
It's back to a traditional quartet sound for "Take A Little Look," written by Squire Parsons. A banjo and mandolin add a hint of bluegrass to this track. Justin Terry scrapes out several more low notes on this cut.
The fake strings are back for "Celebrating Resurrection Morning." This Mark Mathes song features strong vocals. Mathes also wrote the final track, "Hallelujah For The Cross."
I'm impressed by the overall vocal quality and the strong song selection found on Turning Point. With more agressive tracks, this group could, I think, be compared to the "power groups" known for creating a wall of vocal sound like the Kingdom Heirs, Gold City and Brian Free & Assurance. With the traditional songs on this CD, Cross 4 Crowns seem to be hesitant to embrace a slightly edgier style, but with a bass who is comfortable singing down in Tim Riley territory matched up with a powerful lead and tenor, that's where their strengths lie. I realize it would have been a gamble on a group that's relatively unknown at this point, but I wish Crossroads had exerted a greater dose of focused creativity and a production budget to match for Cross 4 Crowns. The group and their producer, Arthur Rice, have done just about all they could to make Turning Point unique and special, given that they were working with ordinary arrangements and pretty good (but certainly not spectacular) tracks.
by David Bruce Murray
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