Avalon

    Avalon

    Nashville, Tennessee8 reviews across 7 releases

    adult contemporaryccmdance poppop
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    Avalon is a Nashville Christian vocal group formed in 1995 as a Sparrow Records project assembled from singers already working in contemporary Christian music. The original quartet's polished sound used tight four-part harmony over a steady pop beat, with lyrics centered on Christian devotion. The 1996 debut Avalon established the formula, moving from radio-minded songs to an a cappella hymn before closing with an Andrae Crouch cover. In A Different Light kept the same vocal-pop base while giving individual voices more prominent roles. By Oxygen in 2001, the production allowed occasional edges: the title song was more progressive and Aaron Neville supplied an R&B part, although the record remained close to Avalon's familiar adult-contemporary style. Reviews repeatedly noted the contrast between distinct voices and highly blended ensemble singing.

    Michael Passons left Avalon in 2003 after the group had already endured several lineup changes, and Greg Long took his place on The Creed in 2004 following a three-year gap between proper studio albums. Before Passons' departure, Nikki Hassman had been replaced by Cherie Paliotta, who later gave way to Melissa Greene; the personnel turnover altered the quartet without changing its polished pop basis. Avalon continued recording, issuing further studio and hymn projects before regrouping around Janna Long and Greg Long with Jeremi Richardson and Amy McBride Richardson. In 2018, the Richardsons departed, Jody McBrayer returned, and Dani Rocca joined the group. The new lineup released singles before Called, Avalon's first album in a decade, appeared in 2020.

    7 releases reviewed