Kevin Terry and Predestined Live

Kevin Terry and Predestined

In May, TBGB reviewed “Hold On,” the single by Kevin Terry and Predestined. The group’s full project, released by Kingdom Music Group, is now available.

On Kevin Terry and Predestined Live, Kevin “Music Pastor” Terry leads an emotionally-charged praise and worship team from Washington, DC that mixes complex musical backdrops popular with young P&W ensembles with traditional workouts.

Terry is the leader but allows group members to lead the selections. Predestined has a coterie of spirited singers, too, such as Katondra “Muff” Cherry, who shouts her praise on “Song Offering,” and Tia Pittman-Mintze on “Revealed,” though the latter fades out just as she is at an emotional apex. Listeners can hear Terry on the single, “Hold On,” where he assumes the James Fortune half-preaching/half-singing role.

The project moves from musically complex P&W selections to more peaceful worship ballads, such as “Believe,” on which soloist Marsha Jackson interpolates “All Things Are Possible” before she waxes bluesy over the song’s rocking chair rhythm. Later, James Lanier interpolates “Holy, Holy, Holy” in “Revealed” while he hits some impossibly high notes.

Despite Predestined’s youthfulness, its best work can be heard on the several traditional pieces included on the album. Apostle Ivory Jenkins, Jr. leads a satisfyingly bouncy “Glory to His Name” as Predestined vamps like an old-school quartet. Juanita Contee-Johnson of Jonathan Nelson & Purpose shouts and squalls like a Caravan on fire during the aisle-running hand-clapper “Didn’t I Tell You.” Emerging soloist Brittney Wright handles “So Much,” a song of gratitude that endows a James Cleveland-style gospel blues with complex choral and musical arrangements.

The bonus track “Breakthrough” captures the group in frenetic holy dance as Terry, in a preacher’s rasp, interjects comments such as “He’s put clapping in my hands/He’s put running in my feet.” Usually producers fade these praise breaks out way too soon, but album producers Ryland “RC” Anderson and Geremy Wimbush keep it going for nearly nine minutes.

Seamless transitions between many of the tracks keep the program moving, and although the project was recorded live at the Freedom Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the audience cannot be heard except briefly and distantly during some of the quieter moments. Regardless, Kevin Terry and Predestined Live has a lot in its favor, most notably the quality of its soloists.

Four of Five Stars

Picks: “Didn’t I Tell You,” “Glory to His Name,” “Hold On.”