Actor Leslie Jordan is perhaps best known as the scene-stealing character of Beverley Leslie on the hit comedy Will & Grace. On Friday, he proved that he has singing chops as well, when he released his debut Gospel album ‘Company’s Comin’. The album lives up to its name, as every song is a duet with some of country music’s biggest names.
The majority of the ten songs on this album were covers of traditional hymns, which only allows the listeners to critique the strength of their interpretations. Highlights of these covers include ‘Working on a Building’, a collaboration with Charlie Worsham and Ashley McBryde, ‘Angel Band’ with Brandi Carlile and ‘Farther Along’ with Chris and Morgane Stapleton. The mix of Worsham, McBryde and Jordan nearly transported me into a church. The power of McBryde ‘s voice is something to behold and throughout the song I was throwing my hands up in praise the whole time. ‘Angel Band’ took a different approach sonically, as it felt like something straight out of the Southern Rock catalog of a band like Lynyrd Skynyrd or Alabama. This is also the song the shows Jordan in the best light and allows him and Carlile to be equals rather than the guest artist(s) to overshadow him. After hearing the bluesy ‘Farther Along’, I finally completely understand what compels some women like American Idol’s Melinda Doolittle to want to throw their shoe at someone for an amazing vocal performance. I felt this one in my soul, and it is definitely worth multiple listens.
For the three original tracks, Jordan enlisted the help of co-producers and co-writers on this album Danny Myrick and Travis Howard to join him on ‘In All Things’ and ‘The Longest Day’ respectively, while asking legendary Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder to sing on ‘The One Who Hideth Me’. There is an overlapping theme of Heaven and the afterlife on all three songs. Myrick and Howard have voices that lend themselves to the Contemporary Christian genre. Vedder is the biggest shock though, because he showed great restraint in his vocal performance and it makes me want to know what else he can do with these types of songs.
Jordan was also able to show off his comedy chops in these songs, which brought an authenticity to the whole project. It may not have been the best vehicle to prove to people that he’s a legitimate singer, but it was still very pleasant to the ear. If you would like to listen to ‘Company’s Comin’, click here.
