Reviewed by Allan Clare

Recorded live at Jericho City of Praise Church with a 10,000 member congregation in Washington DC in 2001, this offers a 140-minute recording of searing gospel is at last available on DVD. It's an extraordinary celebration which has the packed church join a wonderful choir (who have worked with Smallwood on previous projects) for a lengthy time of praise and worship. There are a few short interviews with Smallwood himself, in which he explains his musical influences. He has married classical and gospel and this is seen in the brief preludes and introductions to the main tracks (composed by Darin Otwater, who also leads the orchestra). The production is top quality and the atmosphere of praise is spirit lifting. Visually it is also amazing - perhaps it's true to say that gospel is as much a visual form of worship as a musical one. The choir are quite literally resplendent, and they pour body and soul into their vocal performances, while to see so many thousands join in with a choir who are giving their all is wonderful. This really is a vibrant and busy production with a vast array of material to delight the spiritual senses of those who watch. Audience participation is encouraged throughout, bringing what could have been a polished concert performance into an all congregation worship meeting. The song "Calvary" is perhaps the centrepiece - a beautiful blues style ballad which builds and builds to an outpouring of abandonment to God. I've never seen such total joy in any church meeting I've attended, and if I ever go to Washington, this Church will be one of the first places I look for!

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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