Heather Headley has been a Broadway baby and an R&B upstart. Now Headley, who rose to fame appearing in the Elton John musicals “The Lion King” and “Aida,” is releasing her first gospel album.

She’s in no danger of being labeled a dilettante: “Audience of One” is neither a departure nor a stretch for the singer, a pastor’s daughter who has covered inspirational material in the past. Headley’s creamy mezzo may not be the grittiest instrument, but it’s a good fit for sweetly accessible tracks such as “Simply Redeemed” and “Zion,” and doesn’t seem out of place on the bluesier “I Know the Lord Will Make a Way.” “Running Back to You” and “Hymn Medley” have a power-ballad vibe that suggests some of the more ostentatious divas on adult-contemporary radio, and in musical theater, for that matter. But they are saved by Headley’s discipline and grace, which not only pleases the ear but also reinforces the sense of humility so central to these songs.

When she sings she’s “far from perfect,” you believe she means it — even if her voice is pretty darn close.

Heather Headley - Audience Of One


Label.........................: EMI Gospel
Genre.........................: Gospel
StoreDate.....................: Jan-13-2009
Source........................: CDDA
Grabber.......................: Exact Audio Copy (Secure Mode)
Encoding Scheme...............: Lame 3.97 V2 VBR Joint-Stereo
Size..........................: 64,3 MB
Total Playing Time............: 49:24


Tracklisting

01. Simply Redeemed 05:08
02. Ordinary Me 04:30
03. I Wish 04:01
04. Jesus Is Love (Feat. Smokie Norful) 05:42 [watch video]
05. I Need Thee Every Hour/Tis So Sweet/To Trust In Jesus/I'd 04:52
Rather Have Jesus
06. Running Back To You 05:31
07. I Know The Lord Will Make A Way 04:47
08. Here I Am To Worship 04:44 [watch video]
09. Power Of The Cross 06:31
10. Zion [watch video]