Reviewed by Simon Redfern

With a highly enviable musical pedigree and track record, the sister of dc Talk's Michael Tait brings us 'Live', a collection of her most requested songs recorded at Hope Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. One of the first things that hits you as the CD charges forward with the fast-paced "Jesus Got A Hold Of My Heart" is energy - there's so much of it in the music that combined with Lynda's wonderfully rich and consistent vocals, you'd be hard pressed not to be tapping away within seconds whether you're a committed gospel fan or not! "One Day" follows on with a great twinkling intro from the keyboard player which adds a bit of fun and extra zest to the recording - something that would be nigh impossible to achieve in a studio setting. "God On The Mountain" has a distinctly country feel to it and is one you could imagine Dolly Parton covering. Contrast this with "My Lord And I" which could have jumped straight out of Blues Brothers! This variety is a real bonus, giving the CD a wider appeal. You can tell from the spontaneous elements in the music and Lynda's passionate delivery of the songs that everyone had a ball recording this and it can become infectious. If I had to point out a slight down-side, for me it would be the ever-present warbling Hammond organ sounds that almost always accompanies music within the gospel arena, but this is far outweighed by the quality and fun elements in the recording. Not too heavyweight, but still packs a fair punch in other ways.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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