Reviewed by Aaron Ferris

Bishop G E Patterson encourages a response from the off on this compilation of black gospel's ever-growing number of bishops who sing. Patterson's "When I Think Of The Goodness Of Jesus" gets the congregation suitably enthused, with the choir well drilled and the rhythm section as tight as a factory-sealed screw-top. The vast majority of tracks are live with a few of the bishops taking the opportunity to share spoken messages of encouragement and challenge in between all the lively praise. One such message, "Wave Of Glory", is a powerful, entirely spoken track with a challenge to expect God's glory on earth whilst also encouraging a longing for the presence of the Lord in the same manner Moses did. The accompanying band's music builds and subsides in replication to the emotion of each spoken line. One of the few studio tracks is the frantic "Gospel Medley" in which Bishop Kenneth Robinson invites all to "call him up and tell him what you want" because "Jesus is on the main line" before breaking into a short rendition of "This Little Light Of Mine" before telling all that "the Lord is alright." If you don't have these tracks on the bishops' individual albums you may want to investigate.

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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