Moses

Moses formed in Atlanta, Georgia, as a soul-funk ensemble in 1977.

Keyboardist/bandleader Mose Davis (b. Detroit), formerly of Detroit funk group The Fabulous Counts (later The Counts), assembled vocalist Bernadine Mitchell, vocalist Vinnie O’Neal, bassist Keith “Doc” Samuels, drummer Steve Milner, guitarist J.D. Morris, guitarist Robert Lowe Jr., and percussionist Louis Stefanelli through Southern session networks.

Davis trained at the Detroit Conservatory of Music and cut keyboard tracks on The Counts’ Love Sign (1973) and Funk Pump (1974), plus the 1973–78 Bohannon albums Stop & Go, Insides Out, Bohannon, Dance Your Ass Off, Gittin’ Off, Phase II, and On My Way. He also played on Tommy Stewart‘s 1976 self-titled album and 1977/78 titles by William Bell (Coming Back For More) and Caroline Crawford (My Name Is Caroline).

The group recorded their debut album at Mastersound Studios and self-released it on Pure Silk Records in 1978, produced by Davis for Momar Productions. Milner drew from prior work with the Spirit of Atlanta, Tommy Stewart, and Tamiko Jones; Mitchell and O’Neal supplied vocals from R&B dates; Samuels, Morris, Lowe, and Stefanelli added bass, guitar, and percussion from Atlanta gigs. Moses disbanded after the release.

The Coming of Moses

The Coming Of Moses marks Moses’ sole studio album on Pure Silk Records.

The album mixes uptempo funk with disco pulses through Mose Davis’ clavinet stabs and Rhodes chimes against Morris’ and Lowe’s guitar slashes. Milner cracks drum breaks while Samuels thumps bass lines; Stefanelli scatters percussion amid Mitchell’s and O’Neal’s vocal pushes, with Davis centering keyboard frames. Davis wrote all tracks except “Something About You.”

Tracks range from heavy disco drives to melodic soul drifts laced with synthesizer swells. “Love To Live” surges in uptempo funk, clavinet riffs locking with drum cracks over vocal calls that build to hornless peaks. “Been Thinkin’ Bout You” eases into soul mid-tempo, Rhodes piano tracing contoured lines beneath harmony stacks. “The Sweetest Love” drifts in mesmerizing disco, guitar bends weaving through steady bass pulses and percussion taps. “Strivin’ For Tomorrow” stretches into five-minute funk arcs, synthesizer strings layering over insistent keyboard figures.

“The Coming Of Moses” unfolds as a six-minute title funk, organ clusters propelling bass walks into extended instrumental trades. “Sunday Afternoon” sways in relaxed soul, acoustic piano underscoring vocal phrasing amid light percussion rolls. “Spanish Sunset” extends to six minutes of sunset funk, clavinet and guitar trading sharp turns against rhythmic conga shifts. “Something About You” closes with Aisha Nanzi’s lead vocal over Thomas W. Stewart’s soul outline, bass and drums holding a tight pocket.

A1. “Love To Live” (4:03)
A2. “Been Thinkin’ Bout You” (3:51)
A3. “The Sweetest Love” (3:47)
A4. “Strivin’ For Tomorrow” (5:14)

B1. “The Coming Of Moses” (6:03) — continuous with “Take It Slow”
B2. “Take It Slow”
B3. “Sunday Afternoon” (3:52)
B4. “Spanish Sunset” (6:35)
B5. “Something About You” (3:58)

Sessions occurred at Mastersound Studios in Atlanta with producer Mose Davis and engineer Joe Neil. Martin McNichols and Davis remixed tracks.

The Coming Of Moses features cover art by Victor Diaz with art direction by Chico Alvarez and design by Chic-Art Studio.

Pure Silk Records issued “Love To Live” (b/w “Something About You,” catalog number PSD 1002) as a 1978 12-inch single. Pure Silk Records followed with “The Sweetest Love” (b/w “Sunday Afternoon,” catalog number PS-45001) as a 1978 7-inch single.