Wave of Glory
Bishop Neil C. Ellis and
The Mount Tabor Praise and Worship Ministry
Tehillah Music Group/Light Records 2008
www.lightrecords.com
Gospel music and the Praise & Worship format, the latter an African American sacred music tradition that has roots in gospel and in other musical forms, are truly international phenomena. The indefatigable Bishop Neil C. Ellis and the members of the Praise & Worship Ministry of the Mount Tabor Full Gospel Baptist Church in Nassau, Bahamas, are living proof.
Wave of Glory is noted as Bishop Ellis’ and the Ministry’s debut music CD, though the minister has recorded several sermons that are available on the church’s website. The new album is jam-packed with straightforward P&W that has at its disposal a robust instrumental accompaniment and an even bigger-sounding choir. Although the lyrics stay true to the P&W standard in their poetic, stream of consciousness rubric, the music ranges from atmospheric and gently hypnotic to aurally massive, or what I refer to as “stadium gospel.”
The apex of the live performance comes when Full Gospel Baptist Bishop Paul Morton makes a guest appearance, singing “Don’t Do It Without Me” in his achingly pleading tenor. Musically and lyrically, Morton’s contribution leans heavily toward traditional gospel and thus offers a nice counterpoint to the otherwise P&W program.
“Command My Soul,” the project’s first song, is catchy and has potential to be a solid radio single, as does the title track, because of its pulse-quickening urgency. “Time to Possess (Celebration Medley)” is given a Caribbean-flavored rhythm section – steel drums and all – that should have played a bigger role in this project. Giving P&W a distinctive island makeover would have been very interesting and genre-bending, which is, after all, how music gradually evolves.
Tehillah Music Group, the mothership of Full Gospel Baptist projects, is behind this effort.
Wave of Glory is a big project with a big sound. Then again, Mount Tabor is a big church with a big ministry and a big vision.
Three of Four Stars
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Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
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this is a great album. i especially love the ” For all you do and Amazed”. Great working coming from a caribbean nation. should have a lil caribbean flavor but …Bahamas is affiliated with the US so i understand.