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Gospel gets old-fashioned R&B touch
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This review first appeared in the January 2, 1999 edition of the American Reporter.
Tata Vega's approach to Christian music is in an African-American gospel vein – not the traditional choir type, but the muscular, soul-influenced style of such artists as the Staple Singers, Tramaine Johnson or Philip Bailey.
Vega delivers her message of faith in a high-energy, high-decibel performance the equal of Chaka Khan or Koko Taylor. We're talking some heavy-duty lung power here – the woman can sing.
The songs and arrangements are right out of pre-rap soul music. Lots of horn charts, listener-friendly melodies, sweet backing vocals. As with Amy Grant, Vega is of the persuasion that the best way to win folks over is by giving them the kind of Hollywood-influenced entertainment they're used to.
And she does it very well.