TBGB Reviews…Analisa

Analisa
Jesus…He Brings Me Joy
Spiritual City Music
www.spiritualcitymusic.com

A bevy of beautiful Latinas have burst onto the gospel and Christian music scenes in the past few years, most notably Jaci Velasquez, Joann Rosario, and Analisa. The latter cut her musical teeth on Led Zeppelin, the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, and earned a scholarship to the University of North Texas School of Music, where she received jazz and classical training.

Loaded with such an eclectic background, Analisa would not be the first who comes to mind when considering new artists in the inspirational music field, but this summer she released her first sacred CD, Jesus…He Brings Me Joy.

The album’s twelve tracks breathe notes of CCM, gospel, jazz, and Latin music. Analisa is at her best on ballads, such as “Lord I Love You,” and “He Gives and He Takes,” when she just sings and doesn’t attempt to shout out of her range. But even on her ballads, Analisa’s kinship with pop music shines through. For example, on the breathtakingly lovely “This New Day,” her warm, purring vocals are reminiscent of 1990s Madonna when the Material Girl was showing her softer side.

Spicy Latin percussion and brass can be heard on “He Brings Me Joy” and “Thief in the Night.” While the lyrics are predominantly in English, Analisa sprinkles Spanish lyrics here and there.

The best track on the CD is “I Have Decided,” a contemporary reading of the hymn “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” that tiptoes in but packs a mighty wallop at the end.

Jesus…He Brought Me Joy is one of those CDs that gets progressively better with each successive track until it finally grows on you.

Three of Four Stars