Kim Gentes

[Don't miss the free download of the song "Holy Spirit Come" at the bottom of this review! Many thanks to Vineyard Music for providing this!]

The last two years have seen a beginning resurgence of stylistic creativity in the "worship music" genre. After 15 years of acoustic guitar based music in light pop/easy listening arrangements, we are beginning to see broadening pallet of music taste, styles and even languages bubbling up in the modern church music offerings.

One of the absolute best albums I have heard in the last couple years is the worship offering called "Miami Vineyard Live". The namesake church featured in this album provided a group of several worship leaders, musicians and songwriters that created a stellar sonic experience while remaining completely worshipful and well-fit within their local church context.  Producer Mike O'Brien architects a gracious balance between flourishing artistic style and church-usable arrangements. Finding this balance is no small feat since the album features several worship leaders, and at least 4 different music stylistic ranges. It may seem inconceivable for a single project done in a "live night of worship" format to include songs that are clearly rendered in Latin, black gospel, island and funk stylings- but that is the task that the production team for "Miami Vineyard Live" took on.  And they succeed with flying colors.

If merely creating a seamless collage of musical styles wasn't enough, "Miami Vineyard Live" also features a truly bilingual lyrical approach. With lyrics written and sang in both English and Spanish, this album becomes a motif for the many thousands of churches who are reaching out to bilingual communities across America and the world. Again, the album is the real thing- keeping songs sung in two languages authentic, engaging and poignant.

The project begins with the upbeat effervescence of "Holy Spirit Come", a brilliant bi-lingual song inviting Spirit of God to visit the church. It's engaging, uplifting and encouraging to be a part of the larger body of Christ, and this song has both the lyrical and language written to best draw the worshiper to a point of collective worship to God. A great call to worship song! The second song is "Gloria A Dios Solo" (with My Whole Heart) and features a continuation of the call to worship theme, but this time having a directive praise invitation calling everyone "with my whole heart I give you all my praise".  Both of these songs feature a wonderful weaving of English and Spanish without sounding like a trite acquiescence to inclusion- no, instead this is a thoughtful and honest group of English and Spanish speaking people who have crafted music that ebbs and flows through both languages.  Beautiful!

The third track is a re-envisioned version of Vineyard classic song "Lord Reign in Me", but redone in energetic Latin rhythms and sounds, with some rock overtures. It's a fresh and encouraging revision, which again sways between English and Spanish. I love it! And the track list continues with this same fresh approach. Track five is cry and response gospel song with all the energy of a full on hip swaying, hand clapping celebration. Fused with more rock overtures, "At All Times" is another song that will charge you up as you sing "I'm gonna bless the Lord!"

The mellow sounds of island music become the enlivened style of the Vineyard classic song "If You Say Go". But no sooner have you settled down into island subtle rhythms and you are back on your feet shuffling with the song "Everything to Me" and "Your Name Is Great".  Pensive love ballads, rousing gospel call/response songs, and renewed versions of classics "Breathe" and "How Great Is Our God" all find their way in this album, not as obtuse appendages of music experimentation, but as enthralling, worshipful re-envisioning of classics put in proper musical context for the Miami Vineyard worship community.

I absolutely love this album. On a recent day trip my teenage son came with me. For hours we listened to "Miami Vineyard Live", replaying it over and over again. He was so impressed with both the music and its unique approach, he has written the church to find out more about their church, worship and work across bilingual communities in their area. He hopes to even go the the church (though) as an intern at some point to learn from them. All this sparked simply from listening to their music. Yes! It's that engaging, and that encouraging!

If you haven't had a chance to listen to "Miami Vineyard Live", I strongly encourage you to do so! You can listen to online samples of every song at the weblink below. But to do this album justice, make sure to go through all the samples of each song. A great new worship album with fresh ideas, great songs and a wonderful approach to bi-lingual worship. I love it! A full Editor's Choice Award goes to "Miami Vineyard Live." Well done!

Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/xNNKBM

Free Song Download from "Miami Vineyard Live"

 *many thanks to the fine folks at Vineyard Worship for providing this.

Review by Kim Gentes

While I have been actively involved in reviewing music for churches for over 15 years, most of the recordings I have heard have typically been in the acoustic rock/easy listening/pop range. Occasionally, I would hear a country, gospel, R&B or hard rock styled album, but these were rare. I wasn't puposefully avoiding other styles, I was simply reviewing what was commonly written, produced and released in the popular Christian worship genre of music and resources.

The last year I have begun to listen to more southern soul, gospel, and R&B styled albums and found some amazingly encouraging, heart-filled and passionate music. One of the best albums I have heard is by Latrel Maloy, called "Sunshine in the Morning". On first blush, you might think that this is simply a great soulful, gospel recording, akin to the more modern sounds of Kirk Franklin or perhaps the worshipful focus of Israel Houghton. But a closer listen reveals something more sublime than either of those icons. In fact, what surprised me most about Latrel Maloy was not his music (though it is top notch and engaging), his vocals (though they are boundless and brilliant), but truly the most compelling part of "Sunshine in the Morning" is the brilliant lyrics and ad libs of each and every song. From the title track, to "Soldier for the Lord" to "Love Call" and on through each song, Latrel explores not just the glory and faith that makes his journey unique, but the sorrow and pain that provide the contrast to the triumph. And this portion of his songwriting is not only a tacid tip of the hat to "soul music", but revealing of what great songwriters have always done for us- draw us together by the common thread of our experience by articulating it for us in song.

Latrel talks of longing for love, relationship, healing for generations, hurts and pain, and the gritty reality of his own experience. And it doesn't matter if you don't have exactly the same life story as Latrel- you still find yourself drawn into each song because he sings and speaks to the human soul which, while in pain through times of difficulty, is ultimately in search of the comforting reality and friendship of God. It is almost impossible to choose favorite songs on this brilliant album. But three songs that stand out for me are the title track (Sunshine in the Morning), "Love Call", and "I Will Give Anything". Each one of these songs express the core of the encouraging message of Latrel's album. He speaks candidly about the centrality of love and the need for each of us to tether our lives to God's love.

Musically, "Sunshine in the Morning" is mixture of full soul, gospel, R&B and pop sounds. Latrel's vocals punctuate the message like a right hook to the soul of each listener. you can hardly listen to this album without being impacted by its honesty, beauty, pain and encouragement all brought profoundly to life by strong songwriting, music and vocal performance. Once I began listening to this album, I simply wouldn't let my music player move on to another album. For two weeks straight, I listened every day to Latrel sing, speak and call out the songs on "Sunshine in the Morning". It has been quite some time since I have given an Editor's Choice selection to an album, but "Sunshine in the Morning" more than deserves this. Latrel is virtually unknown right now, but deserves to be heard by the entire world. A message, a voice and a heart that speaks to the listener at every level. Brilliant!

Below is a 6 minute 25 second video for the title track "Sunshine in the Morning". Take a moment, sit back, watch and listen. You will be inspired and encouraged. This is a man who's music and message have become a singular call to reach to the unfailing arms of God and at the same time becon young and old to allow those same arms of God to draw them out of lives of brokenness into lives of life. You can also see more information about Latrel on his own website.

I want to thank Latrel for giving me permission to include the free MP3 download (song below) and display this video on my site.  You can Latrel's music at the Amazon linked listed below. I hope you find Latrel's music as inspiring and encouraging as I do.

"Sunshine in the Morning/ Do Love"
Amazon Album Link   http://amzn.to/x8wKib 

Free Song Download from "Sunshine In The Morning/Do Love"

Review by Kim Gentes