Kevin Bond Presents Dr. Noah Nicholson, II & the Family Worship Celebration Choir – We Give You Praise

Kevin Bond Presents Dr. Noah Nicholson, II &

We Give You Praise
Barrow Music Group/Rehoboth 1 Media (2010)
http://www.fwc-chicago.org/

Long-playing offerings of music and preaching from African American churches began in the mid-1950s, with the dawn of the LP, but really caught on in the 1970s and 1980s.

After awhile, every church worth its muster had at least one album to its credit. While most were produced locally for church fundraising purposes, others became national charters, especially those “presented” by James Cleveland for the Savoy label during the heyday of the contemporary gospel choir.

The tradition continues, even more so in today’s DIY society, albeit with more sophisticated production techniques and top-shelf musicians. For example, Dr. Noah Nicholson tapped his high school friend, Grammy and Stellar Award-winning producer Kevin Bond, to tackle his Family Worship Center’s debut project, We Give You Praise.

The lyrical focus of the songs on We Give You Praise is telegraphed by the album title, but they are P&W songs with real heftiness. The polished choir of 50 voices enters His courts with praise and lingers, supporting a dozen gutsy singers, including Dr. Nicholson, who shows his own proclivity for singing on the title track.

Other top vocalists on the album include Apostolic Church of God’s Dwayne Lee, Tyrone Madden and Cecelia Garmon, the latter two leading the album’s singular gospel-bluesy “You’re My Everything.”

Chicago’s Family Worship Center Celebration Choir sings as if it has nothing to lose and everything to gain, and it gains high marks on We Give You Praise.

Four of Five Stars