Donna Jackson “Hold On to Your Dreams” Album Review

Prime Cuts: John 3:16, The Thief, Wait Upon the Lord

Don't let the over familiar song titles such as "Jesus You Are Lord," "In His Hands" and "John 3:16," blight you from the intricate beauty and power of this Christ-centered record. This is not an album that brings us on a merry-go-round across the world of "I've-heard-it-all-before."  It doesn't spin us across the same verbosity of overwrought cliches and the same vignettes of predictable narrative plots of countless songs out there.  Rather, Donna Jackson is a keening poet of the highest order.  She writes with a careful pen where she is able to jot down heart-warming details of life and faith that often escape the plebeian eye.  And like someone who keeps a diary close to her heart, she not only has the uncanny ability to sketch the bare skeletons of memorable incidents, but she's able to shade in emotions that move our hearts and souls towards Jesus Christ.

Donna Jackson is a singer and song writer from Savannah, Georgia.  Ever since she was 12, she has been singing across churches all over North America. She also leads worship across various churches in the greater Georgia area.  Her ability to capture an audience and bring them into the presence of Jesus has been picked up by many.  This has led her to the release of her first Southern Gospel album "Rescue Me."  As a result, Jackson has been a featured musical guest on TBN, The Inspiration Network, Atlanta Live, Together Again and many other Christian Television Networks.  Now she has partnered with Jim Collins who has produced many artists on Crossroads Music (the musical home of the McKameys, Soul'd Out Quartet, the Talleys and others) for this release.

While many Southern/Country Gospel records are known for their share of covers, here Jackson breaks tradition by including 8 of her own compositions and 2 hymns "I'll Fly Away" and "When We All Get to Heaven."  Jackson flexes her mettle of her song writing prowess on "John 3:16."  Not the hymn with the same titular, but a Jackson original, "John 3:16" starts off with the narrative account of Jesus on the Cross in the first verse.  Drawing out the significance of the historic event vis-à-vis John 3:16 in the chorus, Jackson then makes the move to relate all of this to us in the second verse.  This is thus a perfect textbook example of how a song can make Scripture come alive.  The same can be said about Southern bluesy "The Thief," an ingenious exposition of warning against the works of the evil one.

Fans of bluegrassy-styled country who like dollops of fiddles and banjos in their music will be in for a treat with the Rhonda Vincent-like "In His Hands."  While adorned with a serpentine Jewish flavor "Jesus You Are Lord" picks up some of the apocalyptic images of the books of Daniel and Revelation to illustrate the Lordship of Jesus that truly is a delight to hear.  Perhaps most personal to Jackson is her music gift to her own pastor "Pastor's Song" -- an ode of appreciation to the men and women who have given of their lives in the service of the Gospel.  And if you are looking for some heart stirring old fashioned Gospel ballad that comes with the gorgeous backing of a choir, "Wait Upon the Lord" is such a treasure to the heart. 

"Hold on to Your Dreams" is definitely not a phone-in affair.  If you are eschewing cliché driven songs that come without imagination and Scriptural involvement, this is an album definitely worth exploring.  And if you want to do your heart and soul a favor, remember to visit www.donnajackson.org and pick up your copy today.

 

 

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