Live From Another Level

Israel & New Breed: Olanrewaju Agbabiaka, Denise Allen, Mattie Calloway (vocals); Israel Houghton, Johnny "Natural" Najera (acoustic guitar, Fender Rhodes piano); Michael Gungor (acoustic guitar); Aaron Lindsey (piano, keyboards, drum programming); Jermaine Smith (organ); Jerry Harris (keyboards); Terrance Palmer (bass guitar); Christopher Coleman (drums); Javier Solis (percussion).
Recording information: Total Grace Christian Center, Decatur, Georgia.
Israel Houghton clearly feels the spirit of worship from the deepest recesses of his body and soul, a sincerity that pours out in his music. Israel founded New Breed Ministries with an undeniably affable intention, to use music to bring together peoples of different faiths and origins. Israel & New Breed are, in a sense, a religious all-star group, and its members are ministers in their own right. The passion manifested by this gathering of talent resonates throughout the group's second album, LIVE FROM ANOTHER LEVEL, a spirited, jazzy, engaging double album.
One of Houghton's other gigs is the bringing of the gospel to professional athletes as National Director of Champions for Christ. His time in that setting is reflected beautifully on the rousing "We Win," which ends with Houghton addressing the crowd in a ecclesiastical manner, equal parts Reverend Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali. The crew shows off its versatility on the very next track, the Caribbean-tinged "All Around." The right balance of party and veneration permeates LIVE FROM ANOTHER LEVEL, making for a wonderfully engaging gospel experience, even for the uninitiated.

Tracklist

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