Be Exalted (CD - 2005)

Personnel: Marvin Sapp (vocals); Marvin Sapp; Steve White (various instruments); Al Willis (guitar); Nashville String Machine (strings); Jeff Robbins (tenor saxophone); Tim Pitchford (trombone); Cedric Thompson (piano); Daniel Weatherspoon, Ralph "Buttaz" Kearns (organ); James Poyser (keyboards, percussion); Bad Bady (keyboards, programming); Darrell Freeman (bass instrument); Kenny Brooks, Calvin Rodgers (drums); Tommie Walker (programming); Blanche McAllister, Tina Watson, Troy Bright, Jovaun Woods, Vernard Burton, Monique Griffith, Tiffany Thompson, Floyd Wilkinson, Ted Wynn, Phil Groves, Faith Howard, Michael Kent Smith, Gloria Brand, Andrea Moore, Tyrone Block, Jerard Woods, Kim McFarland, Ayuana George, Dewayne Woods, LeAnne Palmore (background vocals); Eric Brice (guitar); Ryan Sharp (trumpet); Arthur "Buddy" Strong (organ); Aaron Lindsey (keyboards); Jeremy Haynes (drums); Javier Solís (percussion).

Audio Mixer: Craig Bauer.

Recording information: Audio Bay Recording, Rockford, MI; Audio Bay Rockford, MI; Battery Studios, New York, NY; Cecca, Dallas TX; Cecca, Dallas, TX; Dunamis Outreach Ministries, Detroit, MI; Hinge Studios; Maximedia, Dallas, TX; Platinum Lab, Nashville, TN; Pressure Point Studios, Chicago, IL; Sound Emporium, Nashville, TN; Sound On Sound Recording, New York, NY; Sound On Sound, NY; Studio Eve, Chicago, IL; The Supe Kitchen, Mt. Vernon, NY; Tommygunn Vstudio; Whatbox?, Houston, TX.

Arranger: Percy Bady.

Marvin Sapp's BE EXALTED opens with a burst of thunderous crowd noise that leads directly into the glorious "Be It Unto Me," a song that combines the sanctified fury of prime Staple Singers with the wild R&B power and hooky chorus of a classic Prince single. The rest of BE EXALTED continues in a similar vein, setting lyrics of devotion and praise to music based on old-school '70s and '80s soul. When Sapp testifies in the middle of a powerful ballad like "Trust In You," he sounds as much like Bill Withers as he does a minister, and his vocals are as strong as his belief. Al Green's spiritual albums are the most obvious touchstone, but on songs like the ultra-catchy electro-pop of "Changed," Sapp makes fine use of post-disco musical trends. As a result, BE EXALTED is that rarity, a contemporary gospel album that even non-believers are likely to enjoy. minimize