Ariel Prater & the Notes of Harmony – I Will Praise Thee Oh Lord

Ariel Prater & the Notes of Harmony
I Will Praise Thee Oh Lord
ArielSoul LLC 2009
www.arielprater.com

Though their name sounds like that of a quartet, Ariel Prater & the Notes of Harmony is actually a six-member mixed voice gospel group from Georgia.

Ariel Prater started out in the Prater Brothers singing group with his brothers Amond and Anton, but he now devotes much of his time to the saxophone. In fact, on the group’s debut CD, I Will Praise Thee Oh Lord, Ariel’s saxophone is like a seventh member of the group, improvising here and there like a lead singer.

The album is quite exquisite, especially considering that it is an independent release and the combo’s first recorded effort. The praise and worship-oriented songs, most written by Ariel and Amond, make for extraordinarily pleasant listening. The young singers deliver the songs with a cool, poised, tuneful sound and strong harmonies, like a serene Earth, Wind and Fire. One of the lead vocalists, Takeita Wilkerson, has the perfect edgy-smooth gospel voice for the group. The musicians provide a funky undercurrent, with Ariel’s sax and Greg Mitchell on keyboard punctuating the jazz-rock arrangements.

Ariel’s production is clear and robust, perfect for a group that doesn’t shout but just sings to where you can listen to them all night. The sensual saxophone is something you don’t hear that often in gospel music, at least not as a lead instrument, but Ariel demonstrates that it works.

‘Nuff said. Ariel Prater & the Notes of Harmony have tremendous potential.

Four of Five Stars

gPod Picks: “Just Praise,” “Have No Fear,” “All I Need Is You.”