Live from Another Level (CD - 2004)

Israel & New Breed: Denise Allen, Mattie Calloway (vocals); Johnny "Natural" Najera (acoustic guitar, Fender Rhodes piano); Jermaine Smith (organ); Terrance Palmer (bass guitar); Israel Houghton, Javier Solís, Aaron Lindsey, Jerry Harris, Michael Gungor, Olanrewaju Agbabiaka, Chris Coleman.

Personnel: Jamil Whiting, Dakri Brown, Daniel Johnson , Stacie Joseph, Mattie Calloway, Tom Scott, Olanrewaju Agbabiaka, Denise "Nissi" Allen (vocals); Israel Houghton (acoustic guitar, Fender Rhodes piano); Michael Gungor (acoustic guitar); Tim Green, Marvin Thompson, Clifton Brockington (brass); Aaron Lindsey (piano, keyboards, drum programming); Jermaine Smith (organ); Jerry Harris (keyboards); Chris Coleman (drums); Javier Solís (percussion).

Audio Mixer: Salvo.

Recording information: Total Grace Christian Center, Decatur, GA.

Photographer: Michael Gomez .

Unknown Contributor Role: Johnathan Alvarado.

Arrangers: Israel Houghton; Aaron Lindsey; The New Breed Band.

For diesel-powered, raise-the-rafters gospel-driven praise music, it's impossible to beat Israel & New Breed's Live from Another Level. Thanks to regular touring all over the States and Africa, Israel Houghton's name has become synonymous with the cutting edge. With books of his charts in almost every next-generation church across the country, and his melodies running through the minds of a great many gospel devotees, Houghton has established himself as the Christian voice of his day. Defying categorization, New Breed is popular with black, white, and Latino congregations alike. This is no surprise, considering their daring instrumental and vocal performances, top-shelf, edgy arrangements, and constant musical invention. In a genre where artists lean toward an increasingly homogeneous, safe, no-risks sound, Israel proves that audiences hunger for something more. With two discs full of R&B, Afro-pop, salsa, languid balladry, and funk abounding, Live from Another Level will certainly satiate that appetite. The opportunity to hear on disc the free-flowing interaction between stage and congregation is a precious one indeed, and certainly the finest context in which to appreciate this musical giant. With a pleasant mix of both original material and crowd favorites, Israel & New Breed will be impossible to beat for years to come. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez

Israel Houghton clearly feels the spirit of worship from the deepest recesses of his body and soul, a sincerity that pours out in his music. Israel founded New Breed Ministries with an undeniably affable intention, to use music to bring together peoples of different faiths and origins. Israel & New Breed are, in a sense, a religious all-star group, and its members are ministers in their own right. The passion manifested by this gathering of talent resonates throughout the group's second album, LIVE FROM ANOTHER LEVEL, a spirited, jazzy, engaging double album.

One of Houghton's other gigs is the bringing of the gospel to professional athletes as National Director of Champions for Christ. His time in that setting is reflected beautifully on the rousing "We Win," which ends with Houghton addressing the crowd in a ecclesiastical manner, equal parts Reverend Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali. The crew shows off its versatility on the very next track, the Caribbean-tinged "All Around." The right balance of party and veneration permeates LIVE FROM ANOTHER LEVEL, making for a wonderfully engaging gospel experience, even for the uninitiated. minimize