Joe Pace (Mighty Long Way) - Reviews

Joe Pace
Mighty Long Way

Joe Pace is synonymous with the big, traditional choir sound, delivering album after album of intense mass vocal praise. Beginning with The Colorado Mass Choir, who entered in 1995, through to his more recent work with Integrity Gospel in a number of settings, including jazz, praise and worship and workshop, Joe Pace matches his considerable output with passion, intensity and great songwriting.

On the double-disc celebration, Mighty Long Way, Pace brings together 120 voices for a mega mass choir live recording, with members pulled from several previous recordings from the artist. The album, subtitled "The Vision Comes Alive", is made up of talented and faithful vocalists from previous Joe Pace recordings, and puts the focus on re-arrangements of many of the hits from past outings. Several guest vocalists join in to boot.

"Stir Up the Gift", featuring Kenneth Wells, goes back to the early days of Colorado Mass, as does "I Still Have Joy". Both are written by Rudolph Stanfield and get deserving re-visits on the first silver platter of this project.

"Speak Life", from the album of the same name, brings in Jerard Woods, who delivers the soul on lead vocals. The song is followed by "It's Not Over", which is in fact a reprise of "Speak Life", and expresses the same hope: that in Jesus Christ life and hope spring from seemingly impossible situations.

Mighty Long Way

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On "While You Wait", with reference to Hebrews 6:15, guest artist Jonathan Dubose Jr. is out front with his guitar. Taking the role of lead soloist, the 'prophesying guitarist' is supported by the choir's gentle rendering of the song's chorus. Dubose swings some intricate solo work as the piece builds to its climax.

The two new songs on the project are hard to miss. Lowell Pye from Men of Standard steps forward on the title cut "Mighty Long Way", celebrating God's faithfulness in bringing us through. Then on the mid-tempo "Offering Of Praise", Malique Grear takes the mic, with horns riding over a percolating rhythm and choir praise.

Pye returns back to back on the churchy "Hallelujah Anyhow" followed by "Glad About It".

Dalon Collins of Kirk Franklin's Family fame is welcomed on "Hold On". Collins has been missed, so it's a source of joy to hear him with his signature vocal style lending a deeply soulful edge to this encourager that uses a rising melody line to convey its message.

Other songs to catch are the traditional "I Still Have Joy", featuring Denise Waldon, and Pace's highly popular Worship Medley which pulls together six of Gospel's most famous recent praise hits. Also in the mix is the medley "Have Your Way", billed as a 'Joe Pace Mega Medley', and which brings together Pace's own popular melodies.

Mighty Long Way is a celebration of the abundance of musical ministry that God has graced Joe Pace to deliver to the Body of Christ over the past decade, and will be a welcomed resource for every musical library.

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Producer: Joe Pace album release date: April 18, 2006
Integrity Gospel

— reviewed by Stan North —