In the annals of Gospel music, you can be sure to find The Fantastic Violinaires ranked right up there with other prominent luminaries.

The Detroit-based quartet has been caving in churches and concert halls with their stupendous drives and energetic stomps since the 1950s, with members that have included Robert Blair, Willie Banks and Wilson Pickett.

With the passing of Blair in 2001 (the group’s renowned lead singer), The Violinaires have re-grouped and are back on the scene with a 10-song project from Melendo Music. Current members are Dwight “Tito” Arthur, Jeff Durant, Gregory “Bobo” Harris, Rev. Danny Walker, Robert Arrington and the late Robert Blair’s cousin, Keith.

Leonard Williams returns to work with the group as producer, along with his son, LaMorris Williams, who like his father, is an artist in his own right.

It proves to be a wise move, and the father/son duo bring both tradition and foward-thinking to the table, honoring the history of The Violinaires and allowing them to revel in their roots, but also letting them venture beyond conventional quartet boundaries.

Rev. Danny Walker fills the big shoes of Blair admirably, taking lead vocal duties on much of the album. His gritty work on “Trust In The Lord” is stellar, with the song featuring the high falsetto background harmonies and vocals the group is known for. “Thank You Jesus” also has that old school, near-Motown, slow feel.

The lead single “Stop Complaining” goes down as one of the album’s sure fire hits, with Walker again prominent on lead. The heaven piece “Look The Place Over” begins with acappella and finger snaps before rollicking guitar and drums kick in and that patented falsetto backing vocals start the drive.

In addition to his production duties, LaMorris Williams also writes or co-writes eight songs on the project. Cuts such as such as “ABC/123” (in which the group expresses how they feel about God’s love, “it’s understandable like 123, like ABC), and also the jam “Your Love”, come wrapped in a R&B bow (along with its remix).

Several other cuts fall into the same category (“So Good”, “Thank You”).

Still as innovative as ever, and pushing the envelope as they have always done, it’s clear the The Fantastic Violinaires see no limit to their continuing climb to yet Another Level.