A worship set with a global church flavour recorded live in Houston.
Recorded live on 20 June in Houston, Texas, with more than 12,000 worshippers in attendance, artist, composer, author and worship leader Michael W. Smith recorded his third highly-anticipated worship album A New Hallelujah.
“Since my last world tour a few years ago, I’ve been looking forward to recording a live worship project that refl ected something more global than I’ve ever done before; a collection of songs and voices to translate what I experienced that
year. I had hoped for an evening of worship that refl ected the corners of our nation, and the world; I think we captured that. My great friend
Israel Houghton, the world renowned African Children’s Choir, an incredible young worship leader named Coalo Zamorano and a 250-voice choir elevated the songs to amazing moments of praise and worship. It was more than I could have hoped for,” shares Smith.
The title track was penned by Michael, his wife Debbie and friend Paul Baloche and the album was arranged and produced by Michael. With several new songs that Michael wrote especially for this project, as well as familiar ones such as Mighty to Save and I Surrender All, A New Hallelujah offers a uniquely moving worship experience for both fans of his highly-successful Worship albums, as well as those who are just discovering his music for the first time.
At long last a high profile worship release has looked beyond the confines of the American church to present worship with something of a global flavour and on this set the CCM star is to be congratulated for carrying off the occasional musical flavourings of the world Church so effectively. The title track with the African Children's Choir is a delight while the Spanish delivery by Coalo Zamorano on "I Surrender All" is another highlight. Recorded on 20th June in Houston, Texas with more than 12,000 worshippers, the album demonstrates far more vocal fire and musical ingenuity from the singer/pianist than on Michael's previous two big selling but musically patchy worship albums. The title track, penned by Michael with wife Debbie and friend Paul Baloche, is surely destined to impact the world Church while overall the mix of new material and ancient favourites is deftly done. So often live worship projects abandon musical quality in favour of ambient noise atmosphere, but here the balance is just about perfect.
This track data is supplied by the Cross Rhythms review library. Please note that CD/DVD tracks may vary according to release region or product version. You should not assume that products purchased through Cross Rhythms Direct will necessarily have identical track listings to those shown.
Posted by John Fagbola in London at 19:48 on Dec 19 2008
This is probably one of the best worship CDs I have ever
heard. Since I bought my copy here, I have listened to it
almost every day! I wish Micheal would take-on more worship
projects like this in the future. This is what he was born
to do. At 51, he has finally accepted that he was born to
lead the Church to worship. I hope he will title he next
project as: Born to Worship.
For more information about Michael W Smith,
check the Michael W Smith Artist Profile on the main Cross Rhythms website for news stories,
feature articles, interviews and much more.
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This is probably one of the best worship CDs I have ever heard. Since I bought my copy here, I have listened to it almost every day! I wish Micheal would take-on more worship projects like this in the future. This is what he was born to do. At 51, he has finally accepted that he was born to lead the Church to worship. I hope he will title he next project as: Born to Worship.
John Fagbola's rating: