SR5029: Just Can't Make It By Myself   -- Bishop Mason & Friends

Available October 7, 2022

Bishop Mason has two other recordings on The Sirens Records: 2003's "Glory! Glory!", critically acclaimed by the New York Times, and "Heavenly Keys". Bishop Mason's piano and organ playing is energetic and joyful, sometimes it's funky or bluesy, and sometimes it's sophisticated and sweet. There were three sessions for these 2019-2020 recordings. Bishop Mason chose three musical colleagues that he knew would inspire him: Eugene Ross III from Los Angeles, California, Dr. Curtis Daniel from the Cleveland, Ohio area, and Leonard Maddox of Chicago. All three bring energy and excitement to the studio. Special guest and legendary Mother Vernon Oliver Price sings on two tracks and electrifies us with her power and vigor.

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Press / Music CD Reviews

If someone asked me whether traditional gospel music still thrives in church, given the radio and chart dominance of Adult Contemporary Urban - influenced religious music. I'd hand them a copy of Bishop Dwayne Mason & Friends' Just Can't Make It by Myself.

Mason knows the style well, that vigorous, blues-based religious music that gives a lift that lasts. As a bishop in the music-soaked Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ and pastor of Chicago's St. Martin's Church of Christ, he has been baptized in it. The musicians and vocalists on the album perform as if the latest popular gospel styles don't exist. Even their version of Donnie McClurkin and the New York Restoration Choir's 1990 hot "Speak to My Heart" has a traditional backbone.

Making his third appearance for the Sirens, Mason cajoles from the keys exultant flourishes of blues- and jazz-tinged gospel riffs, as pleasantly familiar as the aroma of sweet potato pie. Friends from across the country join him on keys, drums, bass, tambourine, and lead vocals. And what friends Mason has. Foremost among them is Mother Vernon Oliver Price. One of the last living veterans of the first generation of church wreckers. Price seizes the title track with two-fisted conviction. On "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power", she sings herself, or others in the studio, happy. We can assume this because the final moments of the selection are given over to what the church calls a praise break. Musicians strike up this jitterbug ostinato whenever congregants are so physically overcome by the presence of the Holy Ghost they rise to their feet and, consumed by spiritual ecstasy, begin shouting and holy dancing.

With one superb vocal turn after another, whether from Price, Eugene Ross III, or Curtis Daniel, the instrumental-only tracks sound naked without their own featured singer. They should all have been so blessed.

The participation of Chicago gospel veterans like Price and bassist Richard Gibbs, as well as the project's swinging informality, evoke Anthony Heilbut's retrospective productions for Spirit Feel. Albums like his The Soul of Chicago (1993) showcased the first, and now mostly deceased generation of Windy City gospel singers (Vernon Oliver Price, also featured on that album, has outlived them all). By capturing Bishop Dwayne Mason and his generation in their musical virility, the Sirens owner Steven Dolins is offering more than just exciting listening. He's giving tomorrow's gospel enthusiasts and scholars a sonic touchstone of church-hewn African American sacred folk music.

The Sirens owner Steven Dolins continues his exploration and documentation of Chicago gospel music with these three releases. Bishop Dwayne Mason provided the impetus for the label's exploration into gospel music, having been recommended to Steven by Erwin Helfer in 2002. The following year the label released his album "Glory! Glory!" and he recorded for them in 2005, sharing the credit on the album 'Heavenly Keys'.

On the set under consideration here, he shows the justification for the title, playing both piano and organ, with bass and drums support. There are several instrumentals varying from items that in a different context that might be called "soul-jazz" to a strictly church number "I'm Sealed Till the Day of Redemption" or "I've Got A Testimony", and items that fall in between such as his rendition of Thomas Dorsey's 'Search for me Lord', and the sophistication of "Speak To My Heart". The vocal numbers include both smooth modern gospel and very traditional sounding numbers, and Mother Vernon Oliver Price belies her ninety plus years on the impassioned, very bluesy title track and the closing song.

After the albums "Glory! Glory!" and "Heavenly Keys", here is the third collaboration of the Bishop for the label of Steven Dolins which, once again, will not disappoint many people. This session is an authentic jewel in its case, masterfully produced throughout the eleven proposed compositions. Dwayne Mason, who in addition to the load of his church also manages a company of funeral directors, brought in the studio formidable team members. Hats off to start with the legendary Mother Vernon Oliver Price who, at over ninety years old, literally rocks the house on "I Just Can't Make It By Myself", followed by the formidable composition entitled "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power"; despite the weight of the years, her vocal power remains intact, total respect. In the studio, we also find Eugene Ross III who comes to assist his friend on the piano and who, vocally, unfolds all his class and his knowledge on pieces like "Lord Help Me To Hold Out", "Jesus That's My King" or the admirable "He Looked Beyond My Faults". Let's not forget in passing Dr. Curtis Daniel and Leonard Maddox who, as much on the organ as on the vocals, make us rediscover the fervor of Sunday songs on the South Side. Special mention for the instrumental "I'm Sealed Till The Day Of Redemption" in which the robust and efficient play of the Bishop Mason on the piano responds admirably to the sensitive touch on the organ of his friend and accomplice Curtis, it is admirable. Once again, Dwayne Mason fulfills his noble mission admirably by delivering an album that will not leave your turntable anytime soon. A hell of a success.

Bishop Mason is a sure bet on the Chicago gospel scene. Renowned pianist, he signs here his 3rd album for The Sirens Records and, for the occasion, he demonstrates that he is also a talented organist. Pastor of St Martin's Church of Christ in Chicago, he is also a businessman at the head of a flourishing funeral business. Here we have the result of 3 recording sessions carried out between 2019 and 2020. It's a treat from start to finish, with instrumental sides well removed to the taste of coming back to it, like "Search Me Lord" and "I' ve Got a Testimony" in medium, like "Speak To My Heart" and "Jesus Will" and in slow, like the intense "I'm Sealed 'Till the Day of Redemption". The accompanists are part of the fine flower of gospel musicians in the Windy City: Richard Gibbs (bass), Christopher Jones or Michael Eason (dms), Leonard Maddox (organ). The singing sides are also top level with Vernon Oliver Price, a living legend, a great singer of the Golden Age of gospel. She is found here in the eponymous title full of emotion, which moves firm and in "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power" where her singing is powerful and commands respect. Congratulations also to Curtis Daniel, vocals and organ, in a vigorous "I Love Jesus" and to Eugene Ross III (vocals and piano) in "Lord Help Me to Hold Out" and, in slow, "Jesus That's My King" and "He Looked Beyond My Faults". It's today's gospel, firmly rooted in tradition, just the way we like it. We want more!

Back in 2002 celebrated blues pianist Erwin Helfer took part in an event to commemorate the 9/11 tragedies and was impressed by (the then) Reverend Dwayne Mason's piano playing, and recommended him to his own record label, The Sirens, based in Chicago. Since then Dwayne Mason has recorded two albums of gospel music for the label, starting a series of gospel recordings to add to The Sirens' blues catalogue. Now a Bishop and extremely busy with his ministry, Dwayne has little time to devote to his music but managed to create this latest release from three sessions held in 2019-2020. In each case another keyboard player was invited to participate (Curtis Daniel, Leonard Maddox and Eugene Ross III), alongside the Bishop, backed by bassist Richard Gibbs and Christopher Jones and Michael Eason who share the drum stool; Antoine Taylor Jr. and Ayden Taylor add tambourine to three tracks. Veteran gospel singer Mother Vernon Oliver Price sings on two cuts, Curtis Daniel on one and Eugene Ross on three, the remaining five being instrumentals.

The first session involved Eugene Ross III, a younger musician from Los Angeles. Eugene sings and plays piano on "Lord Help Me To Hold Out", an uptempo gospel classic from James Cleveland, and "He Looked Beyond My Faults", a slow and stately tune with powerful organ sweeps by Bishop Dwayne. On a third cut, "Jesus, That's My King", Bishop Dwayne plays both piano and organ, leaving Eugene to emote impressively on the vocals.

The second session of four tracks finds Bishop Dwayne on piano, leaving organ duties to Dr. Curtis E. Daniel from Indiana who sings on opener "I Love Jesus", a tune that starts in jaunty fashion and increases in intensity as it progresses. 90 year-old Mother Vernon sings on two tracks, her signature song "I Just Can't Make It By Myself", a ballad that demonstrates where soul music's origins lie, and the extended closer "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power" which starts sedately, then builds to a frenetic finale in the last two minutes. Curtis' final contribution is a bluesy sounding instrumental "I'm Sealed Till The Day Of Redemption", both piano and organ featuring strongly.

The third session involves Leonard Maddox who contributed to Bishop Dwayne's 2005 release "Heavenly Keys". Leonard plays organ has the sentimental feel of a ballad and "I've Got A Testimony" is again uptempo, the piano adding a jazzy feel to the tune.

Gospel music is rather outside my area of expertise but this set is certainly well played and sung, so if you enjoy gospel, this disc might be a good addition to your collection.

The Sirens with its owner Steven B. Dolins on front, decided to publish a series of piano, organ and vocals gospel albums with artists like Jessy Dixon, Geraldine And Pastor Donald Gay, Elsa Harris, Lavelle Lacy, Nash Shaffer Jr. or Eddie Robinson among others. Now Steven has counted again with Bishop Dwayne Mason who, this time, has invited some friends and colleagues to participate in this album. They are Curtis Daniel on organ and vocals, Leonard Maddox on organ, Eugene Ross III on piano and vocals, Vernon Oliver Price on vocals, Richard Gibbs on bass, Christopher Jones and Michael Eason on drums and finally Antoine Taylor Jr. and Ayden Taylor on tambourine. The result is an album with eleven songs of pure, fascinating and passionate gospel where the spirit of Jesus can be felt in every note as if you were on a Sunday morning church service.