Reviewed by Mick Farrar

The artwork describes Wintley Phipps as "Two time Grammy Award nominee" but it doesn't detail the categories. After listening to the album I'm none the wiser. His voice is a rich baritone which he handles with ease - not unlike Steve Green - lots of long sustained notes with stacks of vibrato. The tracks tend to be slow though "Praise Him" and "Rest Of My Days" raise the tempo a little. The backing is almost exclusively programmed which while being very slick, lacks feel. The two things that raise this album above the mundane are the saxes of Bruce Swaim (tenor) and more particularly Kim Waters (soprano). They inject life into what would otherwise be a very tired album. Other high points are duets with Lisa Robinson and the illustrious Patti LaBelle (the ex-Blue belle is herself readying her first gospel album). Perhaps the most impressive track is the atmospheric "Wayfaring stranger" simply for the variation it brings. Competent but hardly a prize winner.

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.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.