A Deeper Level: Live (CD - 2007)

Israel: Stacey Joseph, Leah Smith, Mattie Blackburn, Dakri Brown, Lois DuPlessis, Ryan Adgar, Jamil Freeman, Jeremiah Woods, Danielle Stephens, Sha' Simpson, Olanrewaju Agbabiaka, Rodney Jordan (vocals); Johnny "Natural" Najera (guitars); Neville Diedericks, Ryan Edgar (acoustic guitar); Eric Brice (gut-string guitar); Christa Black (violin); Israel Houghton (piano); Justin Savage, Arthur 'Buddy' Strong, Jerry Harris (keyboards); Justin Raines, Terrance Palmer (bass guitar); 'Big' Mike Clemons (drums); Javier Solís (percussion).

Additional personnel: Naielle Stephens, Daniel Johnson (vocals); Michael Gungor (guitars); Jimmy Bolin (saxophone); Vinnie Ciesielski (trumpet); Roy Agee (trombone); Aaron Lindsey (keyboards); Mark Townsend (vocoder); Chris Tomlin, YPJ, Darlene Zschech, Jonny Lang, T-Bone.

Many contemporary gospel releases are sometimes difficult to distinguish from the secular R&B and hip-hop that influenced them musically, but the third album by Israel & New Breed is something entirely different. The press kit for the aptly titled A DEEPER LEVEL claims that Israel & New Breed fasted for 40 days in preparation for the recording of this album, a cleansing ritual meant to purify their music from worldliness. Indeed, A DEEPER LEVEL is a powerfully moving expression of belief delivered with the self-assurance of true believers. minimize