The short and sweet:  Really incredible.

The detailed version:  To me, this album sounds like happiness and freedom in worship.  I kinda wanna put it on and go on a road trip to some outdoor Christian festival.  Y’know?

The latest album from Israel Houghton, The Power of One, isn’t due in stores until March 24th, but rumblings about it have been around for months.  In fact, I wrote this review at the end of January and have been chompin’ at the bit to post it– all in due time!

It’s a solo album, so the vibe is a bit different from his other stuff, but it’s still got a tinge of that “New Breed” sound to keep it familiar for us.  I don’t think praise and worship teams will have much new music to copy, though, which is prolly a good thing.  Y’all need to settle down.  But I digress…

In addition to giving us more great music, this album succeeds in reminding us that Israel is a great songwriter, not a formulaic one-hit wonder, and an awesome vocalist (dude is SINGING on this album).  And with production from Tommy Sims and Aaron Lindsey, and guest appearances from Mary Mary and tobyMac, there’s a little something for everybody.

Standout tracks for me are “Just Wanna Say,” the single that I’ve already raved about in an earlier post, “Everywhere That I Go,” a feel-good, rockin’-out kinda deal, and “Saved By Grace,” a clap and dance-worthy anthem that made me knock into a couple folks on the subway a while back.  Sorry, lady!  I also groove HARD to “U R Loved,” a funky track that could’ve been a hit by Earth, Wind & Fire.  Oh, and “Every Prayer,” featuring Mary Mary… the folks are saaangin!

So, yeah, for the record, you’ve gotta get it when it comes out!

STAY TUNED for a stupendous CD Giveaway RIGHT HERE… coming sooner than you think.  In the meantime, check out Israel talking about the song concept for his hit single, “Just Wanna Say”:

The BMI Trailblazers Awards take place during Stellar Awards weekend and they are always the hottest ticket in town (perhaps moreso than the Stellars!).  This year, I spoke to soooooooo many industry folks who said it featured some of the greatest performances they had ever seen in their LIVES.  EVER!

I was so excited for last night, when Gospel Music Channel aired the awards show, full of tributes for and from gospel’s finests.  But ummm… somewhat lackluster for me.  And it wasn’t cuz the performances weren’t brilliant– it was cuz they kept cutting off the people!

I get that we have to do commercial breaks and the editors had to contend with the dragging on of gospel vamps (some folks NEVER end a song).  But still… that’s the genre.  And many lovers of the genre appreciate, no… LOOK FORWARD TO the vamps!

Case in point: Kierra Sheard.  She sang “Jesus Is A Love Song” like it was her own song and, right when she was about to demolish the vamp “Je-sus is… a love song… love… song…,” they went to commercial and that was it.  So, we’ll never know how that ended.  And they kept doing it!

I get that there’s a limited amount of air time for the show, and that they have to capture as much as possible… but can’t y’all make it a three-hour program? LOL  I’m being unfair and unrealistic, and I realize that, but I’m just sayin’…

In spite of my frustration with that, the show was PHENOMENAL.  Karen Clark-Sheard sang “Couldn’t Tell It If I Tried” like it was the original recording from Finally Karen, Kim Burrell gave new life to “Prayer of Jabez (Bless Me)” and reminded everyone why she’s oft-imitated, but never matched.  And Lalah Hathaway… God gives gifts and favor as He sees fit, but I’m just a little jealous.  Like… we’re creating human beings with voices like THAT?!  Maaaaaan!!!

Other great performances came from Israel Houghton & Tommy Sims, BeBe Winans, Donnie McClurkin (with an impromptu mic-pass to Darwin Hobbs, who I believe to be severely underrated by consumers), and Twinkie Clark, who plaaaayed that B3 organ!

If you missed it, it’s airing again TONIGHT on Gospel Music Channel at 10pm EST.

Anyone else catch it?  WHAT DID YOU THINK?

The 2009 BMI Trailblazers Awards are FINALLY airing on Gospel Music Channel THIS SUNDAY, February 22nd at 8pm EST.

If you recall, I’ve talked about this awesome event for months.  It honored Twinkie Clark, Donald Lawrence and CeCe Winans, featuring tribute performances by Karen Clark-Sheard, Kierra Sheard, Lalah Hathaway, Tommy Sims, Kim Burrell, and several others.  The awards ceremony also honored Marvin Sapp, with a tribute performance by Donnie McClurkin.

For those of you who miss it (DON’T), Gospel Music Channel will be airing encore performances at 11pm EST that night (Sunday), and on Monday, the 23rd, at 10:30pm EST.

We WILL be discussing it in great detail on Monday, so play yourselves if you wanna. Watch it!

Some streets in Nashville are confusing.  I drove RIGHT past stuff so frequently… but by the time we made it to the swank, reception-style gathering at the ASCAP offices, all was well.  Gospel industry powerhouse, Neily Dickerson, coordinated the event and it was great.  I grabbed some hors d’oeuvres and got ready for the showcase, hosted by Darlene McCoy.

First up was Darrel Petties & Strength In Praise.  They did a great job.  The choir was tight and Darrel Petties was rather engaging.  I don’t own any of his stuff, but I may have to make a quick purchase.  This one song they sang, “Down At the Cross”… good Lawd!

After that, we were blessed by Jessica Greene (multiple Stellar Awards nominee and, ultimately, winner of the Best New Artist award).  Though she’s a “new artist,” she gave it to us like a seasoned professional.  She commanded the attention of that whole room– yes, folks, put your sushi down and gather ’round.

Finally, mega-producer Tommy Sims got up with an acoustic guitar and, with Daniel Weatherspoon on keys, performed “Sinner’s Prayer,” which he wrote for Marvin Winans’ recent solo release.  An amazing performance!

Also in the house were artists Andraé Crouch, Darwin Hobbs, Isaac Caree, Kevin LeVar, David Ivey and industry folks Sheilah Belle, Teresa Hairston, and Monica Coates.  There were tons of other folks, too, but I can’t name ‘em all.  Great job, ASCAP and Neily!

No time to waste, though, cuz I had to run to the Red Carpet event.  Stay tuned!

And look for photos SOON in the 2009 Stellar Awards Weekend Photo Gallery!

Yeah, I didn’t make it, but I heard it was off the CHAIN.  Industry veterans I spoke to said it had some of the best performances they had EVER seen!

The honorees were Donald Lawrence,  Twinkie Clark, and CeCe Winans.

Among those singing tributes were Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Karen Clark-Sheard, Kim Burrell, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Tommy Sims, Kierra Sheard… on and on and on!

Mad you missed it???  Don’t be.  I hear Gospel Music Channel will begin airing the event in the next couple of months!

Israel Houghton is putting the finishing touches on his latest solo album, The Power of One, which will be released on March 24, 2009 on Integrity Music/Columbia Records.  The album features co-writing from long-time writing pals Aaron Lindsey and Tommy Sims, and guest performances from Mary Mary (on the powerful ballad “Every Prayer”) and tobyMac (on the rock track “You Found Me”), among others.

This album represents a return to the studio for Israel, as he hasn’t released a full studio album in a while– maybe Real, released in 2002, which STILL gets heavy rotation on my playlist.  And even though it’s a solo album, we’ll probably still get a little bit of that “New Breed feel” on some tracks.

The multiple Grammy, Dove and Stellar Award winner says that the theme of his upcoming album is in line with the message of much of his later music– “social and global concerns, focusing on identity and the purpose of God in everyone’s life.”

Now, I’ve spoken with several people who felt that Israel’s music was becoming somewhat formulaic– still great music, mind you, but predictable.  And I could see that point.  But I’m actually really excited to hear this album!

This is the first time that I’ve heard his musical objective articulated so well.  He’s linking the connection between worship and justice– and that’s desperately needed in this industry.  We all love a song that inspires worship about what God has done for us.  But how many artists write music to praise God for breaking the chains of child prostitution or slavery for a stranger in a third-world country?

Anyway (*stepping down from soapbox*), look for the album.  It sounds promising and I really think it’s gonna deliver.