 
  
 
 The Tribe of Benjamin Raize Da Prayze
Headlining a project for the first time, this collective of 
seven Ben Tankard protegés fulfull the promise
 they first showed in 1997 on Tankard’s Git Yo Prayze On 
project on Verity. 
  
While his name may be absent in the album title, Ben Tankard
 has his hand all over this project, as he produces and 
arranges,  mixes and engineers every cut. 
Gospel’s famous
 minstrel is also responsible for all of the instrumental
 tracks. 
  
But it’s The Tribe who continue their knack 
for knocking out jazzily soulful vocals, with leads 
coming from Cassandra Robertson, Lynitra 
Eskridge and Jeffery White.  Acrobatic and 
vibrant when occasionally appropriate, but generating 
a soul-soaked mellow vibe for much of the length of 
the CD, their voices mix and blend well, yet retain 
their individuality.  That one-person distinctiveness
 conveys a tone of personal praise, helping to bring
 the listener into personal praise as well. 
  
“Your Love Is Extravagant” emerges as an album highlight, 
with its uncluttered, almost barren instrumental 
arrangement and clear vocal lines of trading female 
and male leads  lending the right effect to the highly
 reflective and praiseful tone of the song.    “Blessed
 Is He” also forces the use of the CD player repeat 
button, as The Tribe adds a sanctified and infectious
 worldbeaty vocal of  “whoa-whoah” to the Gary 
Sadler song. 
  
While the majority of the songs presented 
are jazzed re-arrangments of Integrity's renowned 
worship and
 praise material, Tankard does contribute two originals
 of his own, including the deeply grooved title cut.  
His second composition is a remixed and redone 
version of “Git Yo Prayze On”. 
  
A cool breeze is always appreciated, especially in the
 church house.  In this case, that breeze is The Tribe
 of Benjamin, and the source of the breeze is their
 refreshing Gospel jazz vocals. 
  
  
 Producers:  Ben Tankard
album release date:  October 19, 1999 Integrity Music
  
—
reviewed by Stan North — 
 
 
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