Biography
Enter Gary Mayes who impacts hugely on this, his debut album titled The N.E. X-perience Vol. 1. Gifted artists show themselves to be wise when they surround themselves with equally talented others, because it creates a situation where the whole is greater than the sum of their parts (see interview with Gary Mayes).
Mayes certainly knows where to turn, enlisting the support of Shawn McLemore plus a host of upcoming Houston vocalists and psalmists to bring an album that is sure to make waves in the Gospel community.
Mayes is not a vocalist, but rather follows in the footsteps of peers such as fellow Texan Kirk Franklin and also William Becton. He’s an instrumentalist, he writes the songs and produces the album, sometimes throwing in exhortations much like Franklin does. But don’t get it confused, Mayes’ Kirk-esque adlibs are tribute, not bite.
This is best shown in the straight up Gospel jam, “He Keeps On”, which Mayes bluntly states is ‘inspired by Kirk Franklin’. Ken Small is on lead vocals, with Nu Era, James Fortune and Fiya tossing out the vocal groove.
This N.E. X-perience is an unforgettable one. Gary Mayes is masterful with both his production skills and as songwriter. Throw in the mixing of C and you have a winner. The album is anointed and I will go out on a limb to say that it’s one of the best albums of 2002. Prepare to be blessed.
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