TBGB Reviews…Dr. Judith Christie McAllister

CD Review

In His Presence – Live!
Judith Christie McAllister
Judah Music/Artemis Gospel 2006
www.judah-music.org

Dr. Judith Christie McAllister, “the preeminent woman of worship” and recognized widely as a leader in the Praise & Worship category of gospel music, recorded In His Presence – Live! at the Cathedral of Praise COGIC in Nashville on January 22, 2006.

True to her COGIC roots and service to the West Angeles COGIC for nearly two decades, McAllister praises with a plethora of instruments, including a brass section and imaginative use of percussion, the latter which gives the opening track, “To Our God,” a South African gospel feel, especially when blended with call-and-response choral harmony. As such, the whole project has a West Coast COGIC vibe, sharing more with the Pentecostal flavor of Andrae Crouch than the Southern COGIC sound of the late Bishop G.E. Patterson and his salutes to old-time congregational singing.

In His Presence – Live! also bears comparison to Martha Munizzi’s live No Limits in that they both have tightly choreographed stage show pacing and musical sophistication.

Still and all, McAllister’s straight-away singing on “Face-to-Face,” with just a dash of instrumental backing, is one of the project’s finest moments. Here she demonstrates her command of vocal range and dynamics. The concluding track, “Rain!,” is the penultimate moment, when the arrangement simmers to boiling point and McAllister turns to shouting.

Overall, Dr. McAllister provides a very polished and full performance with nary a blemish from front to back.

Three of Four Stars