Reviewed by Tony Cummings

It must be hard to follow up an album which has been one of the biggest selling gospel releases ever but that's the task before the gospel veteran. 2007's 'Thirsty' album went gold largely through the inclusion of the old school gospel ballad "Never Would Have Made It" which spent an inordinate amount of time as the most popular song on US gospel radio. Anyone who listens to Sapp will be surprised that the veteran's style is so defiantly old-time church and that, seemingly Sapp's years with Commissioned - one of the pioneering acts in crossover R&B-style gospel - didn't encourage the singer to utilise many modern R&B rhythms. Instead Marvin utilises a vocal style which could have been plucked from a '50s gospel quartet while his accompaniments, although beautifully executed by skilled pros, keep it strictly in "let's have church", decades old style. Producer Aaron Lindsey keeps everything tight and soulful in this live recording made last October at the Resurrection Life Church in Grandville, Missouri. There are several powerful songs here like Jonathan Dunn's "Fresh Wind", Jason Nelson's "Don't Count Me Out" and Stan Jones' "He Has His Hands On You". Whether any of these songs are destined to produce the success of "Never Would Have Made It" though as I completely failed to identify that song's hit potential, I might be wrong.

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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An original member of Commissioned, Marvin Sapp is one of the Gospel music’s most recognisable voices to date.

Now the pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sapp has been blessed with a career that spans over 20 years.

Marvin’s new release Here I Am is a live recording that showcases the raw vocal abilities of the “pastor who sings”.