A treasure of greatness: The Praise & Worship Songs of Richard Smallwood!

In these times gospel artists are in abundance. You can get your gospel music in just about any country, musical style, and language. What is still hard to find is anointed musical excellence. The kind of excellence, and anointing that could only come from one being used by God. It is like a rare treasure, and once found it should be appreciated by all. Such a treasure is the world renown, pianist, composer, and arranger Richard Smallwood. Verity Records has compiled a marvelous CD of all the best songs of this Grammy, and Dove award winner titled the Praise And Worship Songs of Richard Smallwood.

What is most striking about Richard Smallwood is his uncanny ability to blend classical with traditional gospel music. For those classical students we know that this isn’t a huge stretch since gospel music has its’ roots in the Spiritual Anthems of the slavery period. Smallwood, a highly acclaimed classical artist himself revived this reunion with the sound of gospel. This latest CD gives the listener the opportunity to experience the best examples of his technique.

The first cut is “The Procession of the Levites”, an orchestral piece that is both majestic and moving. Here you are transported back to a grand entrance of the Levites whose sole job it was to glorify, and worship God through skillful music. “Anthem of Praise” the continuation, is filled with Smallwood’s signature clean and clear choral singing. Yet he doesn’t allow us to become spectators as the song progresses into a handclapping offering of gospel music at its’ best. Add in the lead singers adlibs and you are now in a Pentecostal church. “Angels watching over me” is a quiet reflective song about knowing that God has sent angels to keep us from harm. Here in duet, Maurette Brown Clark (before her solo days) flexes her beautiful mellow voice. The song that put Smallwood on the world map in The Preacher’s Wife, “I Love the Lord” is next. Again the mix of classical and gospel worship here is flawless. Everyone’s favorite “Center of my Joy” graces this CD as Smallwood sings the lead. Other noteworthy songs: “My Everything” a worshipful offering, “Glorify the Lord” a joyful hand clapper, “Thank you” an anointed dramatic worship and praise song that ushers you into God’s presence with a heart of gratitude, and last “Total Praise” another excellent example of Smallwood’s great talent for classical grandeur and gospel greatness.

As compilations go this is one of the best, because the artist is one of the best. Richard Smallwood has forever raised the bar for gospel composers and challenged what others thought gospel music was capable of. He has made it musically palatable for the “elite” while keeping the gospel itself securely intact. One only has to listen to this CD to understand how the power of God through and individual can change the world.


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