Janna Long grew up as a preacher's kid and was influenced by the singing of gospel greats Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson. And like many of contemporary Christian music's best, Long traveled and performed with the band Truth before joining the Dove Award winning pop group Avalon. This background, plus the incredible raw vocal power of Long's soulful soprano musings, defines her self-titled debut solo album.

Musically, the project can best be described as electric urban pop. Interestingly, Long serves as her own back up singer on many of the cuts. For example, "More" begins with light electric guitar and crescendos with Long's combined vocals, entreating the Lord to let her experience more of His love.

Long also presents a powerful rendition of "In Christ Alone," made famous by Michael English. "Superman," an R&B love song, could find its way into secular music. Featuring cameo background vocals by Long's singer husband, Greg, this track is produced by Anthony Michael "Mookie" Taylor (Stacie Orrico, tobyMac).

Lyrically, most of this urban R&B project focuses on simple and, unfortunately, sometimes cliché truths of faith. Of special exception, however, is a wonderfully off-time (delayed backbeat) song, "Call," which reminds the broken and hurting that God is only as far as their voice can reach. The song's broken beat seems to push the listener up the hill, while the lyrics pull them over the top.

Listeners with a bent toward R&B, or whose favorites include Mariah Carey, Sandi Patti, Kathy Troccoli or CeCe Winans, will enjoy Janna. -- Steve Gannon