Audio Review: Jordan Family Band – Reach

by | Jul 10, 2018 | CD Reviews, Reviews

Reach is the second release on the Skyland Records label for Jordan Family Band. This group consists of husband and wife Joshua and Randa Jordan, their three sons (Hutch/Alex/Grant), and Keenan Atkinson.

The 2017 release by Jordan Family Band features songs written by Joshua with one co-write. Joshua also contributes several songs this time around, but the writing duties have been extended to several more experienced composers. (See the list of song titles with writing credits below.)

Reach keeps you guessing as to what you may hear next. Randa’s vocals are smooth and polished while Joshua’s are raw and very Country. Their sons’ voices are still in the process of maturing. Keenan Atkinson (Ricky’s son) is listed as a vocalist in addition to managing product sales, but it’s not clear whether he is a featured soloist at any point on Reach.

The best two tracks are “Call On Jesus” which features Randa at her expressive best and “Moving On” which showcases Joshua at his twangiest. In between those extremes are several very good songs. “You Better Get Right” is a fun song. The mid-tempo “Somewhere In The Middle” and the anthem “God Is There” complete the top five.

I’m less crazy about the songs that feature the sons on vocals. It’s a process, and they’re still learning the techniques required to become expressive singers. I am similarly less enthused about the patriotic song, “Old Glory Waves,” which closes Reach. I’m clearly in the minority on that one, however. The concept video was viewed more than 12,000 times in the first 48 hours after being posted with overwhelmingly positive comments and only one “thumbs down” vs. over 650 “thumbs up” user ratings as I complete this review. You can view the entire video below.

My rating for Reach is 3 1/2 stars.

Label: Skyland Records
Producer: Jeremy Medkiff
Song Titles: You (Randa Jordan, Rebecca Peck, Joshua Jordan); Shouting In The Middle Of My Storm (Joshua Jordan); God Is There (Marty Roe, Jimmy Olander, Bernhard Herms); You Better Get Right (Or Ya Gonna Get Left) (Joshua Jordan, Ricky Atkinson); Heaven Is Just A Memory Away (Joshua Jordan); No Lack Of Love (Gerald Reeder); Call On Jesus (Cindy Johnson); Grace Is Still Amazing Me (Joshua Jordan); Moving On (Joshua Jordan); Old Glory Waves (Rebecca Peck)
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

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David Bruce Murray

David Bruce Murray

David Bruce Murray is a church music director in Ellenboro, NC. He is the author of Murray's Encyclopedia Of Southern Gospel Music and the owner of both SGHistory.com and MusicScribe.com.

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