Trey McLaughlin & the Sounds of Zamar – Limitless

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.

On the introduction to Limitless by Trey McLaughlin & the Sounds of Zamar, Pastor Dr. Charles E. Goodman, Jr. preaches that God can do anything, that He literally “goes beyond beyond” in helping His people.

Dr. Goodman’s message lays the foundation for the album’s assortment of praise songs and odes of encouragement.

Augusta, Georgia native McLaughlin is atrained musician who serves as music instructor at the Jessye Norman School for the Arts and associate director of Barefoot Productions, Inc./Creative Impressions.  He is also minister of worship and arts for the historic Tabernacle Baptist Church in Augusta. 

McLaughlin formed the Sounds of Zamar in 2009.  It is a group with a penchant for warm, polished vocals and complex jazz harmonies that evoke the work of Thomas Whitfield.  The group’s studied musicality is on display on “Holy is the Lamb” and “More Like Him,” on which the ensemble admits that none of us are perfect, but we are trying to be.  McLaughlin composed all of the songs on the album and leads several.  

“You Deserve the Highest” opens with a radio interview on which McLaughlin and the announcer build the track up to be a different sound than the ensemble’s audience is used to, but it sounds much like the preceding cuts.  Frequent interruptions by the radio interview disrupt the flow of the performance.  It would have been better to have the radio interview introduce “I Represent Him,” which has an electronic dance beat that is a departure for the ensemble, at least in comparison with the other selections on Limitless.

Where the group really dazzles is on “I Will Praise,” a radio-friendly ballad that showcases the ensemble’s fine vocal blend.  Similarly, “Help” (not a cover of the Beatles’ hit!) is a prayerful solo by McLaughlin, who seeks divine assistance to make it through the rough patches of life and fight the temptations and traps laid by the enemy.

Talented vocalist Claude Deuce joins McLaughlin and crew on the finger-popping “It Will Be Alright (Victory),” which ends too soon.  “On Calvary,” one of two bonus tracks, is a well-rendered ballad about the crucifixion and its importance for humankind.

Trey McLaughlin & the Sounds of Zamar have put together a respectable representation of their capabilities, and demonstrate that gospel comes in many musical shades and hues.