Kurt Carr - One Church

By Nadine Halstead

Gospocentric

It has been almost 5 years and Kurt Carr finally returns to the music scene with his new CD, One Church . Actually, Kurt didn't really disappear from the music scene entirely. He has been keeping busy with a move to Houston, Texas, producing such projects as Byron Cage's Live at New Birth Cathedral , and winning Stellar Awards. Busy indeed.

For this new project, the Kurt Carr Singers ( Shervonne Wells, Nakitta Clegg, Timiney Figueroa-Caton, Troy Bright, Nikki Potts and Yvette Williams ) return to the forefront along with The Choir of Life (with members from both the USA and Japan) to help bring Kurt's latest vision to life. Recorded live at West Angeles C.O.G.I.C., powerful vocals and strong musicianship are in abundance. It provides evidence that this project was well-thought out and it comes straight from the heart.

Various components on this project make it different from other CDs you may hear. Kurt draws from musical styles from around the world to show that, through music, we can unite together and praise God. (Who would have thought to use an accordion, or bagpipes for that matter, in a gospel song? Definitely not me!). To go along with the theme of One Church, different ethnicities appear in different capacities throughout this project. Whether they are sing in the Choir of Life, play instruments or sing a lead vocal, no one is excluded.

There are so many great songs to highlight, but I will only choose a few. The ever modulating God Great God is a praise song, telling about God and His greatness. It will definitely appeal to the masses and have you moving and praising God for His awesome greatness. For all you polka fans, Psalm 68 (Let Our God Arise) should rock your boat. Albert Armen , from Armenia, tickles the accordion in the right places to set the tone for this song. Together with violins and horns, this song goes beyond America and reaches to the other side of the world asking God to arise. The song then comes back to America, down home to West Angeles, with the churchy Power Praise (Let God Arise) . Go ahead and get your two-step on for this cut (if you're on the freeway, pull over first).

God Blocked It . What can I say about this track? It sums up what many Christians go through on daily basis. Thank God for His everlasting protection, from dangers both seen and unseen. It's powerful. I'll leave it at that. Just listen to it.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention anything about One Word . This worship ballad asks the Lord to speak and reveal Himself to His people. Vonnie Lopez is featured on lead vocals in the reprise and I have one word for her… sang girl!! (OK, so that was two words.) The singers visit the Motherland on If I Tell God . African percussionists give the song an authentic African feel at the beginning. It breaks out into a more North American style later in the song.

Homage is paid to Walter Hawkins and his sister, Lynette Hawkins-Stephens , on the re-tooled oldie but goodie, Be Grateful . That's not the only song that's redone on this project. My Time for God's Favor (The Presence of the Lord [remix]) is revisited. You will sing along to this familiar tune, which garnered a 2004 Stellar Award.

Kurt Carr hasn't missed a beat since Awesome Wonder . He involves many cultures in this particular project, yet stays true to his own culture. He stays true to the theme “One Lord, one faith, one baptism – One Church”. It is yet another astounding project from this brother and his fine group of singers.