Phil Tarver – Draw Nearer (Kingdom Records 2006)

Phil Tarver
Draw Nearer
Kingdom Records 2006
www.kingdomrecordsinc.com

On his solo project, Draw Nearer, praise and worship meister Phil Tarver offers up more of the graceful songs with simple melodies and singable lyrics that have transformed Shekinah Glory Ministry from a church-based troupe into a Stellar Award-winning recording artist.

Recorded on Watch Night 2006 and featuring the musical production of Michael and Daniel Weatherspoon and the searing guitar riffs of in-demand guitarist Joey Woolfalk, Draw Nearer is a showcase for Tarver’s husky vocalizing. He has the preacher’s talent for moving from a whisper to a shout in a split second.

Those who follow Shekinah Glory Ministry will instantly identify with the controlled power and prayerful aura of Tarver’s solo outing. Punctuating the solemnity early on is “Better than That,” a hook-laden, antiphonal song with a funky bass line that will have listeners shimmying in their seats or dancing in place. Dancing in the spirit is very much part of this project, and more than once during the performance, Tarver exhorts his listeners to do just that.

Speaking of dance, the emotional highlight of Draw Nearer is “Dance With Me.” It is a breathtakingly beautiful, sensually sacred piece from the pen of Chris Dupre, and will make a good gospel wedding selection. Perhaps to ensure that listeners did not misunderstand the meaning of a song containing lyrics like, “Romance me, oh lover of my soul,” Apostle H. Daniel Wilson, Senior Pastor of Valley Kingdom Ministries International (where Tarver is praise and worship leader) outlines how there can be sacred as well as secular love songs, and that they share much in common spiritually. In any event, “Dance With Me” is the finest seven minutes the CD has to offer.

Tarver’s background vocalists sound like a mini version of Shekinah Glory Ministry, which contributes to the fact that Draw Nearer sounds like a Shekinah Glory CD featuring the best of Phil Tarver. Tarver is such a fine gentleman, and the content of his character comes through loud and clear in his heartfelt singing.

Praise and worship music combines the soulfulness of gospel music performance technique with smooth jazz instrumentation and contemporary Christian melodies, the latter which CCM performers borrowed from progenitors of power pop, rock and the modern folk movement. Like a nineteenth-century gospel hymn made over by Brill Building tunesmiths, P&W lyrics are intended to relate simple truths that are easy to learn, memorable and meaningful. And as Phil Tarver encourages on Draw Nearer, sometimes you can dance to them, stomping on the devil’s head all the while.

Three of Four Stars