Harold Rayford LIVE – I Am the Instrument

Harold Rayford
LIVE – I Am the Instrument
Tyscot Records 2010
www.tyscot.com

You know about singing preachers, but how about a saxophone-honking preacher?

The latter would be Pastor Harold Rayford of Madison, Wisconsin. On his first-ever live CD, I Am the Instrument, recorded at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis, Rayford conjures up the vibe of pioneering gospel saxophonist Bro. Vernard Johnson and some of bebop’s timeless greats to deliver inspirational songs with brassy sizzle.

One could argue that the pastor’s soprano and tenor sax work serves as a second voice, similar to what Sister Rosetta Tharpe coaxed from her electric guitar. In both cases – Tharpe and Rayford – the interaction of the artist and musical instrument with a live audience (is there any other kind?) takes their performance to a higher, and more authentic, level.

On I Am the Instrument, the audience is clearly enthusiastic if potted down aurally in favor of the music. Rayford describes the inspiration behind some of the songs and proceeds to deliver them sweetly, though not without taking some explosive solos while the ensemble jams out. This dynamic can be heard most prominently on “With Love,” “Every Night My Father Prays,” and the fusion-laced “Ummm.”

Rayford explains the title of “Ummm” as “praise without words,” and that is the premise of I Am the Instrument. Nevertheless, some cuts do include vocal performances, and effective ones at that. Marvin Sapp’s smash “Never Would Have Made It” — Rayford’s current single — incorporates vocals on the choruses, while bluesy vocalist Liz Manns lets loose on “Down Through the Years” and JOSHUA provides breathtakingly lovely group harmony on “Alpha & Omega.” Tyron Cooper appears on “How Great is Our God,” and the pastor’s son, Jeff Ray, raps on the reprise to “Ummm,” which concludes the CD.

Keyboardists Jeffery Thomas II (who also produces) and Walt Smith deserve props for outstanding accompaniment, but the entire ensemble does a fine job giving the project an intimate club feel.

During his interview with TBGB last month, Pastor Rayford noted how gospel and jazz are first cousins. The effortlessness with which both genres blend together on I Am the Instrument confirms his assertion.

Four of Five Stars

gPod Picks: “Never Would Have Made It,” “Ummm.”

Reviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.