Richard Smallwood with Vision Persuaded, Live in D.C

Richard Smallwood is a man of impeccable musical abilities with royal flair. Blessed with a well-trained ear and adorned with the seal of power in the pinkie, his skill for weaving an unmistakable tapestry of classical and gospel genres is unsurpassed in this industry. Yet as masterful as he is in ability, he is equally unassuming, humble and guileless.

He is simply Richard Smallwood. Yet, on this CD offering, Persuaded, he presents a table laden with delicacies for those discriminating gospel taste buds. A survey of the table will reveal just how greatly satisfying this offering can be.

Delicacy number 1: Procession of the Levites marches this project off in the proper regal direction befitting the Crown Prince of gospel music. The brainchild of Darin Atwater (Yolanda Adams), longtime associate of Richard's and former keyboard player, Darin has excelled at the genre of orchestrating and molding Black gospel and Christian thematic music within a classical framework.

In the Procession of the Levites, Darin takes it even further, adding to the mix slight Negro spiritual accents. Midway through the procession, Atwater nimbly traverses the orchestral sonority over to Black gospel sonority as Vision enters into the drama with texts from Psalm 150 and 34. The piece craftily sets the tone for the praise and worship segment (Smallwood-style) with My Everything (Praise Waiteth) and Psalm 8 respectively.

Delicacy number 2: Eyeing the middle of the tableau, is a dish only Smallwood can serve up. Vacuum-packed with the powerful pinkie I mentioned earlier, Smallwood induces drool from the mouths of his contemporaries with a piano medley of two well-known hymns It is Well With My Soul and Come Ye Disconsolate.

Smallwood is perhaps more mind-boggling at tinkling the ivories than at gospel vocal calisthenics and could be listed as one of gospel's leading-edge pianists. Showcasing his crowd-pleasing skill, he begins with a roaring and reverberating keyboard commotion then follows immediately with a simple chorded right hand melody (with the pinkie gently caressing the melody-line) that stills the tempest.

This is a musical watercolor painting (reminiscent of two of the great composers of the Romantic era Claude Debussy and Jean Sibelius) at its best as we sing along with the maestro, knowing even in the bleakest of storms, in the most dis-consoling of events, God is able. It is, and will be, well with our souls.

Delicacy number 3: Hold On Don't Let Go is a wonderful, memorable treat. This is a song for the pure gospel music fan, where much of the Smallwood-type chordal affectations are evident. This number proves, that Richard, though known for his trademark harmonies, can present to the public something that is unmistakably Smallwood, yet not as readily recognizable as some of his former works.

One for the repeat function, it is destined for "classic" status. Featuring the trio of Smallwood, Ted Winn and Jeffry Waddy, the verses methodically unfold until the chorus' hook is unveiled in a powerful and anointed way. Get the napkins out for this one!

Delicacy number 4: Classics revisited! Psalm 8, Calvary and Your Love Divine - So many wonderful Smallwood classics to choose from, how does he decide which one to serve? With such wealth as, Center of My Joy, I Love the Lord, Total Praise and Holy Spirit for example, having re-released them on previous offerings Healing and Adoration, he spreads more of the once-obscure wealth around the table. Soloists Charisse Nelson-McIntosh takes the helm on Psalm 8, while Maurette Brown-Clark, Darlene Simmons and Carolene Hatchett trade power vocals on Calvary and Vanessa Williams beautifully seasons Your Love Divine with new freshness and savor.

With Steven Ford at the production wheel, joined by Bryan Pugh, Mark Walker, Jeff Davis, Jonathan Dubose and Darin Atwater leading with orchestrations, the project is a masterful representation of what can happen when gifted, anointed musicians work in concert with each other. The title track caps off the CD. A bouncing up tempo track, trimmed with expert horn arrangements from the MOHORN's - gospel's leading horn ensemble - the experience is complete.

To quote a verse from scripture: "O taste and see that the Lord is good…". In this case, the entire CD is good, from beginning to end, capable of relieving spiritual dreariness and replenishing with encouragement. Of course, there are more delicacies for your listening pleasure than those mentioned here.

However, the onus is on you to run to the royal table and discover for yourself what many in the industry already can appreciate. Richard Smallwood is a gospel musician, bar none, who knows just how to compose his own regal recipes, measure in ample doses and keep the listener returning time and again for a fresh delight.