Thirsty (CD - 2007)

Personnel: Tim Stewart (guitar); Arthur "Buddy" Strong (organ, keyboards); Buddy Strong (keyboards); Derrick "Swol" Ray (bass guitar); Candy West, Aisha Cleaver, Caltomeesh 'Candy' West, Chelsea 'Peaches' West, Aisha Cleavers, Late Great Daniel Johnson, Chelsea West, Daniel Johnson (background vocals); Derrick Horne (guitar); Jimmy Bolin (saxophone); Vinnie Ciesielski (trumpet); Roy Agee (trombone); Matthew Brownie (organ); Aaron Lindsey, Jerry Harris Jr. (keyboards); Calvin Rodgers (drums); Javier Solís (percussion); Jamil Whiting, Deonis Cook (background vocals); Lu Di, Li Peng, The Asian Philharmonic, Jim Gray.

Audio Mixer: Chris Godbey.

Recording information: Nomad Studios, Carrollton, TX (01/26/2007); Oasis Studio, Beijing, China (01/26/2007); Resurrection Life Church, Grandville, MI (01/26/2007); the Bennett House, Nashville, TN (01/26/2007); The Groove Habitat, Houston, TX (01/26/2007).

Photographer: Keith Major.

Arranger: Marvin Sapp.

On Marvin Sapp's chart-busting 2007 release, there's no questioning his sincerity. On tracks like "Place Of Worship," "Praise Him In Advance," and the title song; the popular preacher and gospel singer emotes when he sings, as if his heart is aflame with an unquenchable spiritual fire. The key to his success seems to be flexibility, with vocal chops that are equally adept at string-laden ballads (he's joined on some songs by a full orchestra) and funky R&B workouts.

Grand Rapids, MI, native Marvin Sapp, a former member of the gospel group the Commissioned, insists he is a preacher who sings rather than a singer who preaches, but regardless of his sense of self-identity in such matters, it is his strong and soulful vocals that make his albums work far more than the praise & worship themes and lyrics he favors. What he says, obviously, comes into play for his many fans on the contemporary gospel scene, but he's not conveying concepts that are exactly startling revelations in this field. No, it's that voice that carries the day: a strong, husky, impassioned, and -- above all else -- undeniably soulful vehicle that blasts through these busy arrangements like an alto sax. The songs themselves are fairly interchangeable, with a backup choir and full trap kit mixed high in most of them, giving each the feel of tremendous energy. Toss in Sapp's assertive vocals, and you've got some rockin' preaching going on, but in the end, it's really how Sapp says things more than what he says that is left in one's memory. He may be a preacher who sings, but it's the singing that truly resonates. Put another way, if you're a plumber who sings on the job, you're a singing plumber. That all changes, however, when you go out and record albums in which your singing is the central calling card. Then you're a singer, even if what you sing about is clogs and drains. ~ Steve Leggett minimize