Ken Reynolds - Great Things

By Peggy Oliver

There are many gifted and deeply devoted worship leaders who spur on congregations into the presence of God with their grandiose personalities.  In the grand scheme of these leaders, a few cut back on the flash while still sharing that same passion.  Ken Reynolds represents the latter group.  The current minister at Resurrection Life Church perked numerous ears with his solo debut, Great Things, through an independent company about two years ago.  Last month, the internationally known, Integrity Music, re-released the live effort from RLC, with a different cover yet same music set, reflecting the diversity of this congregation from Grand Rapids, Michigan that shares a similar musical sensibility to Brooklyn (New York) Tabernacle.  A veteran songwriter for other worship colleagues , including Morris Chapman, Reynolds was also featured on RLC’s own project, For You I Live, and was the musical director/principal songwriter for the vocal group, His Image.  Just about every mood is captured, from urban jubilations to contemporary pop and jazz.  When there’s a list of influences from classical genius Tchaikovsky to Gospel genius Fred Hammond, Great Things renders great listening.  It doesn’t hurt with Reynolds possessing a wide vocal range and pure vocal ability. 

Most worship recordings are launched with the host providing an obligatory welcome to the stage.  Not the case here, with Reynolds’ fluent opening adlibs segueing into the Spanish flavored, Worthy, about the sacrifice of praise:  Let the melody, not the song we sing, but the heart we bring, is the sacrifice of praise we offer to Him alone. 

There’s plenty of up-tempo pieces to feast on including the title track, with some jazzy detours and a declaration of His name: Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11), and the bouncy retro R&B jam, Best Things. 

For a richer adoration experience, Everything and Does Anybody Here are simple, but effective worship pieces without excess vocal hype.  On the flip side for the latter track, the remix delves into an insane, bass-popping excursion, courtesy of Victor Wooden (Bela Fleck & The Flecktones), and small drops of silky scatting. After a stirring reading from Luke 18 on Jesus’s resurrection, Victory becomes an appropriate afterthought.  

Quiet time never felt more peaceful via the medley of the instrumental, Reflection, and I Need to Worship, combining Reynolds’ illustrious piano solo and the City of Prague Philharmonic string section.

With all the various genres and settings, some may consider the results disjointed, especially considering the CD’s purpose.  But Reynolds finds a way to sew all the pieces together in an unassuming way, focusing on one purpose; the great things that God has done.