Sound of The New Breed - Kingdom

By Peggy Oliver

It seems like yesterday that The New Breed, a collective that normally accompanies Israel Houghton, stepped into the solo spotlight for the first time with Freedom.  Released within several months of each other, Kingdom is the second in a series Sound of The New Breed.  On the heels of Fred Hammond and PAJAM adaptations involving established contemporary worship pieces, the six-piece vocal band aims to stamp their R&B/Rock/World prowess on Integrity Music’s songbook.  

The group, comprising of various worship leaders, was birthed from New Breed Ministries, formed by Israel and his wife Meleasa.  Their purpose is to meet needs all around the world, whether hungry souls or addressing issues, such as AIDS.  One such trip evolved into an energetic and impassioned recording, Alive in South Africa.  Both on and off stage, this collective desires a deep relationship with Christ, including periods of fasting for forty days from food and TV.  Israel & The New Breed’s music has also developed a solid reputation crossing genres and cultures.

The first call to worship comes via the majestic, Ancient of Days, co-written by Gary Sadler, declaring the durability of God’s kingdom: “For none can compare to Your matchless worth.”  Many moods accent this piece including a funky backbeat, an African chant breakdown slowly leading into guitar feedback, then finishing up the funk.

Several of Houghton’s compositions are on tap, including an update of a major New Breed hit, You Are Good, celebrating “people from every nation and tongue” lifting up His name.  Neville Diedericks, 2002 South African Music Award nominee, adorns the piece with an expressive lead vocal.  Cranking up the house music vibes, Sing For Joy encourages intimacy with God on every level. 

A long acoustic piano intro sets up Jesus Is; teeter-tottering between an R&B slow jam and anathematic choruses.  During the climax, co-lead Daniel Johnson welcomes the King, as deliverance, healing, and the like abound.

Let The Church Rise touched up as a dainty waltz, and calls for brothers and sisters to be sensitive in our walk: “We are moving with His compassion.”

Veteran songwriter, Don Moen, is represented with Thank You Lord.  Sophisticated seventies/eighties soul surrounds an understated lead by Jamil Freeman.

An offbeat intro on All to You finds Jeremiah Woods shouting into a megaphone, and then bursts into a guitar barrage and the voices crying out, “You can have it all.”

Taking a no frills, straight-ahead approach, at least in the first half, Revelation Song detours into an impressive background vocal display, dusted with R&B riffs.  This composition describing his majesty: “clothed in rainbows of living color, flashes of lightning…” was first performed by Gateway Worship.

Deft vocal positioning between sensitive leads by Mattie Blackburn and praise encourager Daniel Johnson sparks Everything.  

Friend of God is a musical tour-de-force blending rock attitude, a dash of funk, plus some jazz twists.  Ryan Edgar, an acoustic soul independent artist, adapts well with this upbeat urban Gospel excursion.

Hillsong Worships’, Still, transforms into bits and pieces of old-school soul, and a transparent vocal reading by Leah Smith.

For the closer, All the Earth, recorded and written by The Parachute Band, features an affecting performance by Stacey Joseph.

Israel Houghton’s influence rings throughout especially with tight musicianship and colorful vocal arrangements.  Even with the best intentions, however, praise and worship studio projects lose some flow.  For example, when the adoration atmosphere reaches another level on a few tracks, the song has already faded or ended.  And at times, NB plays it a bit too safe from their normal capabilities.  But Kingdom serves a tremendous need in Gospel music’s expanding territory.