It is entirely fitting that the sophomore project from Malcolm Williams & The Voices of Great Faith is titled Renew Me (hear audio).

Fitting because the phrase, in its several meanings, so perfectly describes this superb project from the contemporary Gospel choir based in Chicago: Renew Me is the title to one of the album's many hits and it summarizes the overall scriptural theme of the project.

Renew Me also captures the musical essence of the album, for its innovation in arrangement, brilliance in band interplay and lively energy in everything from songwriting to soloists to choir vocal technique injects vigor into the musical form that is the Gospel choir sound.

Take your pick of the album's generous 15 tracks, you won't go wrong on any.

"Wade In The Water", funkily arranged with an edge by musical director and bassist Sharay Reed and sung by both Malcolm Williams and Tiffany Phillips, is certainly favored. Just when you think that the classic spiritual has been covered or contemporized by one group too many in the recent past, The Voices of Great Faith sing it and startled, you find yourself reaching for that repeat button.

"Live Holy" and the driving "One More River" trigger head nods and foot flailing with their hefty groove factor and contemporary Chicago choir flow; both songs lodge themselves into memory very quickly.

More traditional cuts such as '"All In His Hands " and "Ready" encourage that church aisle holy dance by combining infectious band-propelled drives and tight choir work.

On the other side of the spectrum, the anthemic and Psalm-influenced "How Majestic" is a fast-moving triumph, complete with classical influence, trumpet and upfront vocal prominence.

On the softer, balladic tip, the title track "Renew Me" satisfies immensely. The song begins with tenors on the melodic verse, moving to full choir parts that highlight passing chords and harmony on the effective hook, "create in me a clean heart, Oh Lord". Williams segues from this song into a moving worship solo number, "Oh 2 B N Your Presence", with only piano accompaniment from Terry Moore.

"He Suffered" is yet another beautiful ballad, and puts the focus on the fact that Jesus Christ suffered for us each individually. Williams softly tells the history of His suffering, supported by wafts of gently-phrased choir lines that include vocal support from guests Travis Edwards & The Products of Praise. The song then soars into a soprano solo and flows into the subsequent celebratory track, "Chicago Bump", which needs little explanation.

Credit the choir's director, Malcolm Williams, for letting loose his immense gift for songwriting and arranging. Williams also expertly produces the album, finding that delicate balance between sheer choir force and instrumental power. He also frequently brings his diverse and stylistically flexible vocals to the album.

There's no doubt about it, Renew Me proves that Malcolm Williams & The Voices of Great Faith were no flash in the pan on their underheard debut effort. Choir connoisseurs across the land take note and heed what is proceeding from the musical ministry of this, one of Chicago's hottest vocal collectives.



Three songs snips from Malcolm Williams & The Voices of Great Faith's album Renew Me are available as RealAudio downloads. If you don't have RealAudio, be sure to obtain your free RealAudio player software first, by clicking on the blue RealAudio icon on the right.

To download the 1-minute song snips, simply click on the highlighted text below, let stream on RealAudio, and enjoy.

• "Live Holy"
  
  
• "He Suffered"
  
  
• "All In His Hands"