Reviewed by Paddy Hudspith

This 2009 release by the prolific husband and wife team based at Grace Center, Franklin, Tennessee is intended as a "soaking session". If you are in the dark as to what such a phrase might mean and how it could be captured in an instrumental recording, I would advise that here Kimberley and Alberto Rivera lead a small team of musicians offering over an hour's worth of uninterrupted, entirely improvised (as far as I could tell) music, creating a setting for reflective worship and intimate encounter with the Lord. At first glance, they are 'just playing together' but it is clear that this 'taking it wherever it goes' approach would easily flounder in the hands of less accomplished, less sensitive practitioners. All credit to the 'Soaking Team' of Grace Center, they do sterling work here based, I presume, on plenty of practice and mutual understanding as well as the crucial element of being open to the creative promptings of the Holy Spirit. Technically, the music being performed is fairly simple, but that is not to underestimate the skill required as a group to pull this off effectively. Different members of the group take the lead at different times, improvising melodies. 'He Is Risen' is broken into 11 tracks on the CD but basically this is a single extended improvisation, a good choice for a personal or small group quiet time.

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He Is Risen was recorded live on a Resurrection morning at Grace Center in Franklin, Tennessee. It contains passionate songs of thanksgiving celebrating our Saviour’s victory over death!