Please indulge the dismantling of a cliché as I tell you that in the case of Jamaican-born Karlene Bartolo, the book can definitely be judged by its cover.  This simple psalmist exudes sweet, understated elegance in her musical stylings as well as in her physical demeanor.  

Singer/Songwriter, Karlene Bartolo is no stranger to the music scene.  This twenty year veteran was for many years a vocalist with The Grace Thrillers, the Caribbean gospel group which gave birth to other artists such as Papa San and Claudette Clark. Emigrating to Canada and now residing in Atlanta, she has also shared the stage with CeCe Winans and The Mighty Clouds of Joy.  Artistically, she is shouldered by the Holy Spirit, her husband Richard who also acts as her musical director and executive producer and Atlanta-based producer Jeffrey Rogers of  B Rogers Music.  

The album entitled Father of Light was released in stores November 16, 2004 and has been receiving rave reviews from gospel critics, ever since.  The title track is a song of surrender, as Bartolo dedicates her ministry to God with the words:  “You are the source and the air I breathe, Everything I’d ever need, All that I am and ever hoped to be, Please Lord, take all of me”  

With Let Everyone Praise The Lord as the initial hymn on the album, the listener receives the gift of a song reminiscent of Israel Houghton’s familiar breed of honest Praise & Worship.  Here, the artist shows her musical versatility by mixing some dance influences with her throaty vocals.  

Steel pan and funk guitar lead us into the scriptural In God where contemporary vocals proclaim the words of the original psalmist: “Who have I in heaven but You oh Lord, Being with You there is nothing on earth I desire”  

Holy Is Your Name is a sweet, haunting melody, evocative of a stage musical by the theatric simplicity of the vocals and the vivacious instrumental accompaniment.  The song begins with the reverent lyrics calling up the words of the prophet Isaiah “Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace…”   The song calls God by all his names, Almighty God, Jehovah Jireh, Everlasting Father, while gently reminding the listener that above all His name is Holy.  

A drum line dominates the sunny rendition of Firm Foundation which evokes the image of what song service would sound like on a Sabbath morning on the islands.  

Never deviating from her scriptural source of inspiration, Karlene Bartolo’s debut solo album offers a blissful mixture of funky jazz, serene electric guitar, strong steel pan, powerful background vocals and the unmistakably textured voice that is Karlene Bartolo.  The ten songs on the album are a love song to God.  It is a great listen, although too soon the journey is over and all that remains is the sweet memory of praises to the Father of Light.  

Reviewed by Jennifer Belot