Reviewed by Andy Cooper

John P Kee has played a major part in over 20 albums now, and this is his 10th with NLCC, the choir he founded in North Carolina. The Prince (hence the "P") has already received multiple awards, and most likely he has not had his last yet. "Right Now Praise" is the full bodied opener and provides a bursting brass section, colossal sounding choir, a popping bass line, funky guitars and multiple layers of organ, piano and synth. It has the energy of a tornado and the power to wake even the most slumbersome of students on a Saturday morning. Fred Hammond guests on the second track, "Oh Lord, Our God" but that is of little consequence compared to the performance of soloist Maranda Curtis: she really sings her heart out on "Glorious Is Thy Name" and "No Greater Love". There are no fancy frills and skills with this production: just great songwriting (mostly by Kee), awesome singing and playing (Kee on keys), and all repeatable in a live setting. It has a "classic" gospel sound and feel, with mostly uptempo and uplifting numbers: if you're not smiling and at least clapping your hands and stomping your feet by the end of "Come On Let's Worship", then you are an amoeba. But it's not quite an unmissable classic: I'm sure John P is capable of still more.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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