Reviewed by Tony Cummings

A fascinating album, recorded in Irving, Texas and highlighting Vernard, who blows the back off a tenor sax. Our man comes on with more honks and squeals than 10 Jr. Walker albums as he roars into old standbys like "Oh Happy Day" and "Wade In The Water", while the Rev Tommy Green and the Texas Northeast Mass Choir handle the vocals. If you thought sax only had a place in church worship when kept to doing polite little riffs behind the strummed guitars, this will be a revelation. Subtle it isn't. But I found 'I'm Alive' a blast of rootsey, bluesy, worshipful energy.

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