Jackie O Kelley | Forgiven | TheUrbanMusicScene.com

Jackie O – Forgiven

By Peggy Oliver

Jackie
O, a multi-gifted singer/songwriter, has fully dedicated her life in
leading souls to Christ since the age of seven. The Fresno, California
born musician played piano and sang before her father administered the
sermons at her local church. A few years later, Jackie O taught music
and directed choirs; eventually leading up to an international ministry
throughout the U.S., Europe and Egypt. When not spreading the message of
joy to others with original songs, Jackie O has taught piano and voice
for the past twenty years and served in various minister of music
capacities in central California.

The doors opened
wider for Jackie O’s solo career in 1998 after being discovered at the
world famous Christian Artist Seminar in the Rockies from Estes Park,
Colorado. The judges were wowed with her elegant alto that spurted power
and grace. Jackie O was voted top female vocalist and earned third
place in the duet category with her husband, Keith Kelley. In 2008, her
debut, All About You, was released under the
name Jackie O Kelley. One might notice the cross in the middle of the
letter ‘O’ (designed by Kelly) to symbolize the importance of Christ’s
undying love for all. The independent disc on Spirit Song Music gently
flowed with various styles of praise and worship spanning Latin, reggae,
old school soul and gospel.

Now signed to the multi-media company Tate Music Group, Forgiven
is a continuation of Jackie O’s mission to keep original worship
foremost in her music, served with a satisfying flow of various
arrangements. Tate in-house music producer Austin Harms provides full
sensitivity to Jackie O’s gentle but powerful voice that is devoid of
showmanship. “Letting Go,” an exercise of fully trusting in God, has an
underlying soulful groove: “Like a hold of my hand because I have the
perfect plan for your life, I’ll make it alright.” The ballad “Show
Himself Strong” and the majestic “Show Me Your Ways (Psalms)” anchored
by Jackie O’s delightful piano drippings are suitable for either pop or
urban worship environments. Several Fresno-based talents assist Jackie O
throughout Forgiven. Experimental rock
violinist Patrick Contreras adds pleasing classical textures for
“Stronger.” Gospel group Spirit of Truth lends their distinctive
harmonies for the soft reggae flavor of “Child of God”: “The stranger’s
voice I will not follow. His voice, the only one I hear”; and the
ultimate highlight on Forgiven – the old school soul charged, “Simply Yes.”

Through the many pleasantries, there are two primary sour notes on Forgiven.
The hip-hop-R&B misfire of “Steal Away” is doused by auto tunes and
a paint-by numbers production by Jared B. Elston (whose other
contribution of the title track is much more tolerable). And “You’re Not
Alone” treads more familiar pop ballad territory with a very robotic
keyboard accompaniment. Otherwise, Forgiven spotlight Jackie O’s secure praise and worship gifts in a mostly uncluttered musical atmosphere.

Peggy Oliver

The Urban Music Scene