Lawrence Watson

Well over an hour's worth of song graces The Journey CD by Lawrence Watson who teaches the music and artistry of Motown at Boston's Berklee College of Music. The smooth production and performance includes elements found in recordings by Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye though Watson adds more than a touch of gospel, especially on songs like "God Answers Prayers" and "Blessed Are The Children." Optimism and hope pervade the intense lead vocals with the artist dressed like a minister of music on the CD cover. The 12 songs are accompanied by an 18 page booklet with all the lyrics and six pages of essay about and by Lawrence Watson. Boston veteran Steve Revilak is responsible for the pristine engineering work which combines with the talented musicians to make for a warm and absorbing statement. If anything The Journey is too much of a good thing, a seamless expression of soul music housed in an elaborate package with Watson's philosophy and activism everywhere. At times the words inside and the performance go overboard on the preaching, part of the concept of the record label, Save Ourselves Productions. The songs and the album work best when all involved turn to pure entertainment, and with such a generous helping of music there's plenty of that. Lawrence Watson is involved in a Sony 2002 release Lift Every Voice and Sing, including performances by Chuck Jackson, Wynton Marsalis, Cissy Houston and others, which should give added attention to this debut chock full of pop undercurrents, jazz leanings, blues riffs and gospel flavors. These songs of love, the black experience and praise to God all merge in the grooves to form a musical platform from which the singer/teacher drives his ideas home. "Better Days Are on the Way" is a standout and the appearances of trumpet player Wayne Naus and saxohonist Pat Loomis on The Journey are a plus. Highly recommended. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide