Jason Champion - Reflections

As a promising young singer out of high school, Jason Champion met a legendary R&B vocalist who guided him to his first taste of the big musical stage. However, the tables turned over a decade later, where the singer/songwriter is now answering God’s call. Reflections marks the debut solo and gospel recording phase for this former member of the R&B duo Men At Large. The icon that made the initial career connection possible was Gerald Levert, who also produced both CDs that primarily targeted the adult R&B audience.

Champion could have chosen the brighter lights and adoring female fans, but God was ready to snatch the Cleveland native from those secular music temptations. Times were not always ideal for this talented man of God, including sexual prosmicuity during those after hours parties while in the R&B industry, and a near divorce. Ironically, during his successful run with MAL, Champion was introduced to another influential artist, this time gospel producer extraordinaire Kirk Franklin, whose reputation in gospel circles was already on solid ground. Eventually Champion was invited to sing background for Franklin’s CD Hero and a subsequent tour.

This debut CD covers a lot of territory, inspired by Champion’s Christian transformation. The first single, Always, is already a gospel radio favorite, with its underlying rhythms based on The Emotions’ eighties R&B hit, The Best Of My Love.

Think of this catchy piece as a hug for those days where everything seems to crumble: "Just because you had yourself a couple of bad days, don't mean it's going to be this way always."

Find A Reason, wrapped up with warm acoustic guitar strums, reminds us to put ourselves together in reaching out when we see others struggling.

The Life speaks upon our old self dying and our new life where we no longer bear heavy burdens like we use to: "No matter what it is, you can fix it all."

Champion revisits his nineties sensual R&B roots on I’m Sorry. The lyrics, of course, chart a different course, as an opportunity to unload all our apologies for blaming people unnecessarily: "I'm getting tired of blaming everybody else," or disrespecting friends and loved ones.

For Better or Worse is a personal testimony regarding God's favor in troubled marriages: “He who finds a good wife finds a good thing…” (Proverbs 28:22). Both Champion and his wife Paula’s voices float over some mellow Motown soul arrangements.

The title track claims that personal popularity must be sacrificed in striving for His glory: "There’s no lights with my name, there's no stars nor walks of fame." This track also has a soft spot in Champion's heart, especially his relationship with the songs’ co-writer, former roommate, Gerald Haddon (brother of Deitrick Haddon), who played a key role in Champion's development as a Christian.

The lyrical premise behind Ain't So Bad puts our frequently cynical attitudes about problems and unjustness in a different light because “He is working for our good.” (I Thessalonians 5:17)

Switching to a mellower mood, He Is The Way points to His omnipresence: "He's a friend to all the friendless, A comfort when you're alone." Then, there's Champion's vocal input on The Lord’s Prayer, a moment of sheer repose dissecting every line of one of the most respected scriptures ever known.

The musical palette changes throughout while mixed in with the urban contemporary vibe. Under Campbell's production expertise, there are a few surprises, such as pop-friendly melodies (The Life, Reflections), and a slightly murkier tone, reminiscent of the hip-hop style with slower and hypnotizing drum beats, on Ain’t So Bad. Gerald Haddon handles the production duties for the Motown dusted For Better or Worse. Overall, Reflections demonstrates both Champion's extensive capabilities as a vocalist, and in heeding the call to the most important stage in his career – to please the Lord wholeheartedly.