The Grammy Award winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir has entered into a distribution agreement with New Day Christian Distributors, a Nashville, TN-based firm that distributes recorded music, songbooks and religious products to over 3,000 retailers nationwide. The company will release the physical edition of the legendary choir's 27th album, "Love Lead the Way," to retail stores on July 9, 2013. The digital version of the project was released to iTunes, Amazon mp3 and other online stores in April of this year.
"New Day Christian is very excited about our new relationship with The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. It is an honor to be working with such a legendary choir and to have a part in getting this great new CD into the hands of consumers," says New Day executive Michael Turner. "It's a perfect marriage," says the choir's marketing director Jeremy Castro. "New Day's deep roots in the Christian marketplace and their mainstream connections will serve the choir's needs well because the choir has strong appeal both inside and outside of the church market."
The fifteen song set was produced by choir founder Carol Cymbala and music director Jason Michael Webb. The album boasts the majestic orchestrations that have become the choir's trademark. Their in-house team of writers composed most of the songs. There are soul-stirring ballads such as "Faithful to the End" and "Breathe," as well as, up-tempo tracks like the title song and the rock-edged "Let Your Kingdom Come." They also feature full-throttle hand-clappers such as "The Man" and "Working It Out." The set is rounded out with new renditions of William McDowell's #1 hit "I Won't Go Back" and Preashea Hilliard's "Oh, How We Love You."
The album also features the brilliant rendition of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" that the choir performed at this year's presidential inauguration swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The performance was viewed by over a billion people via television and earned the choir high praise. The New York Times called it a "stirring moment" and NBC News anchor Brian Williams remarked on-air, "Probably not the most artful phrase, but the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir just killed it." Even in the home of the iconic Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Salt Lake Tribune newspaper columnist Peg McEntee wrote, "That choir, not ours, then set off into the most beautiful rendition of `The Battle Hymn of the Republic' I've ever heard."
The 300-voice choir is a blend of ethnic and economic backgrounds, with members ranging from lawyers and doctors to former drug addicts. Over the years, the choir has performed at major venues such as Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden. They've appeared on "Good Morning America" and other national television programs. Their amazing legacy includes six Grammy Awards, seven Dove Awards, two #1 Billboard charting CDs and over four million albums sold. Visit http://www.brooklyntabernacle.org for more news on the choir.
Click here to add a video. Click to add lyrics if not listed.
Brooklyn Tabernacle is back again to assure us that God's love must lead the way| Posted July 27, 2013
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir is well known around the United States and even the world. This multi-racial choir is known for its original songs, powerful remakes and warming the hearts of the hurting. Carol Cymbala continues to lead this hardworking aggregation as they work tirelessly to put out great music year after year. This time they do so in the form of their new album, Love Lead the Way. Cymbala, Onaje Jefferson and Jason Michael Webb wrote almost half of the songs on the album.
The choir delivers their rendition of Preshea Hilliard's song of worship, "Oh How We Love You,” and William McDowell's huge hit "I Won't Go Back” in pure Brooklyn Tab fashion. The great thing is that they never try to "push the envelope” because there really is no need to do so. The vocal arrangements are on point, but church friendly. They keep the complexity level of the vocals at a minimum and that way, choir directors won't stray away from singing their songs.
However, they can "flip the script” and show why they are admired by even those who are not Christians.
If you caught the presidential inauguration in January, you were treated to a stunning offering of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic” courtesy of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Thankfully it was included on this album. Horn arrangements help to bring a sense of patriotism while the string instruments are melded throughout help to add the beauty. Cymbala and Webb do an amazing job of arranging so that even some of the more conservative churches would love and adore this version. "In God We Trust” is nothing short of glorious and one that I would love to hear them sing in person. The sopranos showcase their range with a few soaring high notes further showing the talent and classically-trained vocalists that are scattered throughout the group.
Onaje Jefferson takes the lead on the uptempo "We Lift Your Name," one of the seven songs written by him, Cymbala and Webb. They should think of writing for other artists under the name of "Jefferson, Cymbala and Webb." Onaje does his good singing while the choir stays with him every step of the way. "Let God Arise" is a quite enjoyable Gospel song that has a hint of that Richard Smallwood song. Gospel enthusiasts will definitely understand this statement.
Closing Thoughts:
Those who enjoy Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir will enjoy Love Lead The Way. The same goes for the fans of clear, crisp singing with songs of adoration and love for God. There were a couple of songs that were could have been left out, but this is an album that I strongly recommend. Great work Brooklyn Tab!
I liked very much| Posted July 16, 2013
"The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir" managed to write a beautiful song, "Love Lead The Way." I thought the song modern, without losing the essence of the group / choir. This CD is certainly strong, as in previous works.
to add lyrics if not listed.
