Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Winner of the Stellar Award for best newcomer for this album, blue-eyed gospel diva Martha Munizzi isn't exactly a newcomer since she has been around for awhile and this isn't her first album. However 'The Best Is Yet To Come' has certainly put her on the map. Like Ron Kenoly more than a decade earlier, Munizzi manages to amalgamate gospel sounds with poppier praise and worship styles to create something good. Israel Houghton has been doing the same recently so it's no surprise to find that he produced the album. Recorded live at the multi-cultural Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, this is live with a huge sound and highlights include the Latin groove of "Glorious" and the sheer funk of "Mighty God". As ballads go, the "Jesus Medley" gives Munizzi the chance to strip it all down. Houghton joins her for "Your Latter Will Be Greater" and Israel's own song "New Season" which towards the end surprisingly breaks out into Diana Ross's disco hit "I'm Coming Out". The album closes with a huge jam of a couple of Munizzi's older songs "Because Of Who You Are" and the absolutely brilliant "Shout". The result is a brilliant album and this is great gospel. Not bad for a white girl!

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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