In what may be one of the most startling albums of the year, vocal favorite Gary Oliver combines with Fred Hammond, Brian McKnight and Percy Bady to offer a decidedly urban studio project titled Closer To You.

The Pastor of Tabernacle Of Praise Church in Fort Worth, Texas appears under a joint Benson Records / Light Records banner, painting his soulful renderings onto eleven tracks of new material that range from old school funk jams to crossover urban ballads and beyond.

The joy begins with a song that Oliver co-writes with Bady titled “He Wants”. Bady sets the groove in track from the beginning, and Oliver takes cares of the rest, telling how our God desires our heart, our soul and our mind.

Then on “Turn It Over”, Oliver joins up with Fred Hammond (who produces along with Noel Hall, adds bass and brings in his renowned team of vocalists). The song, written by Joey Kibble and Hallerin Hill, encourages us to turn over everything to Jesus (“it’s just that easy”). Hammond guides it along a musical path that has a severe old-school Commissioned vibe to it, and fabulously phat bass workings to boot.

More Gary Oliver

Gary Oliver writes all songs on the project and partners up in a few instances with some interesting folks. Bishop T.D. Jakes joins him in penning "I Just Want To Stay" that paints the incomplete picture that exists when we don't have Christ or have strayed from Him.... Read the full album review.

So far, so great, and we haven’t even started to talk about the album’s obvious center-piece, the Hammond-produced rework of “I Saw The Lord”, which first appeared on Oliver’s More Than Enough album from 2000. A deliciously funky meld of classical-influenced backing ‘hallelu’ vocals and up front Gospel groove, Oliver is in his element as he lays down passionate vocals.

R&B crooner Brian McKnight takes a prominent spot on the album, writing and producing two songs, including the title track, “Closer To You”. The song is instantly recognizable as a McKnight signature piece, and not just because of his smooth supporting backing vocals. Together with “”Love All The Hurt Away”, they fall into that inspirational category.

In an unexpected move, Oliver tackles the love song genre three times with “Don’t Say It’s Over” and “Let’s Talk About It”, both being further collaborations with Bady, and “Only Once In A Lifetime” featuring track from Joe Hogue.

Closer To You is rounded out with some contemporary (“Come On And Get Ready”) and another percolating track from Hammond on “Power”.

This is Gary Oliver in a whole different setting and soundscape.