Soft Spoken by Darron McKinney

02 Oct

Written by Natasha Mitchell
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Detroit, Michigan, native Darron McKinney is not only a sheriff in Wayne County, but an assistant minister of music at Greater St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church and a t…

Detroit, Michigan, native Darron McKinney is not only a sheriff in Wayne County, but an assistant minister of music at Greater St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church and a talented saxophonist, as well. McKinney caught the attention of people nationwide when he gave a riveting performance of the track, "A Call to Courage," at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial candlelight vigil on May 13, 2001, in Washington, D.C. The song was a tribute to slain police officers and their families.

"A Call to Courage" and an instrumental version of the song is included in the 15-track album, "Soft Spoken." McKinney studied with the legendary Alvin Batiste, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Betty Carter and Joe Sample. Music is certainly not foreign to McKinney, who is in a family of 10 siblings who also play musical instruments and sing. He is also a recipient of a Black Entertainment Television (BET) Discovery Award and often compared to the late Grover Washington Jr.

For a soft reflection, check out the track and notable hymn, "What a Friend." Another track, "Inner Prizm," gives a different view, presenting a subtle and exciting mix of smooth jazz. This song was co-written and produced by McKinney's brother, Nathan McKinney. The background voices in the track, "Never Alone," are not only smooth, but harmonized. I like the mix of tunes McKinney presents in this album. Overall, "Soft Spoken" is a great addition to any jazz music library.