Reviewed by Andrew Segal

Marvellously mixing soul, funk, gospel, R&B and the message of Jesus, singer Nicole C Mullen puts on an extraordinary show to a packed-out theatre audience in her home town of Cincinnati on this DVD. Songs such as "Colour", "Freedom", "Call On Jesus", "Baby Girl" and "Music Of My Heart" are all performed by an amazingly tight five-piece band as Nicole takes centre-stage, often accompanied by a very energetic group of dancers who have the audience on its feet from the moment Nicole and co hit the stage. It can even be slightly exhausting to watch because Nicole herself is also performing the dance routines while singing. One wonders when she manages to catch her breath between numbers while talking to the audience about what influenced the songs, about her relationship with God and how to find strength to live in the world today. The show also proves to be something of a family affair too, with her daughter and father joining her on stage to sing, not to mention a 27-piece gospel choir for the last few numbers of the concert. But what many get a DVD for is the special features, and in this case what you get is some fabulous interview footage, with Nicole visiting several sites that have influenced her, from her parent's house and church to her favourite hot-dog stand; plus some footage about her youth work in a package that is entertaining, thought-provoking and which leaves you no doubt as to where her heart lies.

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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