Bishop L. Spenser Smith PresentsThe Impact Nation Choir
The IN Times
By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.
Although Bishop L. Spenser Smith has been in gospel music for more than 30 years, the Stellar Award-nominee is best known for his work as L. Spenser Smith & Testament. He now pastors Impact Nation Fellowship Church in Tuscaloosa , Alabama
The Impact Nation Choir has plenty of strong voices and powerful leads, but the album also includes cameos by such gospel noteworthies as Pastor Jason Nelson, Crystal Rucker, and Tonya Baker.
The IN Times is as packed with music as is possible to contain on one compact disc. The group alternates between joyous and dramatic as it progresses from one song to the next. Most of the lyrics are in the praise and worship mode, although the 12/8 gospel waltz, “He Did It For Me,” is a testimony about God keeping His people out of danger. It transitions into a long praise break. Chrystal Rucker is pulled in to assist because, Bishop Smith acknowledges, her renewed health is an example of God’s transformative power.
Rucker and Tonya Baker are responsible for the album’s finest moments. On “You’ve Found Worship In Me,” Baker does her usual fine job interpreting P&W as a gospel singer. The rocking chair rhythm adds trad cred to this “praise is what I do” type song.
But it is Rucker who overwhelms. She sings the stuffing out of “Beyond the Veil,” a prayerful, majestic praise anthem. TBGB shared with T’Mil Curtis, who brought this CD to our attention, that Rucker could become one of this generation’s greatest gospel singers. Once she finishes “Beyond the Veil,” it’s doxology.
Four of Five Stars
Picks: “You’ve Found Worship In Me,” “Beyond the Veil.”
2 Comments
Leave A Comment
Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
Visit Today : 443
This Month : 3470
I found the same love for You’ve Found Worship In Me and Tonya Baker’s great delivery. It seems as if I need to go back and revisit Rucker’s Beyond The Veil. L. Spenser Smith is great on this cd also with Jesus Fights For Me. Please listen to the track, Overjoyed, it delivers a great Sunday morning punch to it.
I agree, the worship experience begins with Praise Is Comely , You’ve Found Worship In Me and ends with this beautiful anthem Beyond The Veil. These three picks leads you directly to the throne. Thanks for choosing Tonya Baker and Crystal Rucker they were born to lead these selections.