Joe Pace Presents - Praise for the Sanctuary | TheUrbanMusicScene.com

Joe Pace Presents Praise for the Sanctuary (CD & DVD)

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Many
gospel fans are familiar with Joe Pace, mostly alongside The Colorado
Mass Choir. Since their debut on Verity Records in 1995, God’s Got It
(co-produced by Chicago gospel guru Percy Bady), Pace & CMC
garnered plenty of Stellar Award nominations in the Traditional Choir
category and winning the Stellar for New Artist of the Year in 1996.
After changing label homes to Integrity in the millennium, Pace and CHC
released Glad About It. But CMC is just
scratching the surface in Pace’s respected ministry. Besides his
songwriting contributions like “Mighty Long Way,” “Glad About It” and
“Speak Life,” plus his classy arrangements, Pace has made the praise and
worship experience accessible through his many projects with various
other mass choirs in different church locations. The Joe Pace Presents
series includes: Sunday Morning Service, Let There Be Praise and Worship for the Kingdom; all for Integrity Gospel.

Ever
since he stepped into the gospel music industry, Pace has always been a
strong advocate for modern urban worship, especially in teaching others
through music and workshops the critical importance of entering
presence of God. There are also a few collections focusing on Pace’s
hits and impacting songs such as the double disc set, Mighty Long Way,
calling on those who participated on past projects. Though many have
participated leading worship with Pace through the years from Lowell Pye
to Alvin Slaughter, there are many instances where artistry takes a
backseat and the backing choir and praise team takes on the full load.
No matter if it is old school soul, pop or roots gospel, Pace always
goes about his business quietly, mostly letting his supporting choir and
soloists mold the praise and worship clay. This is the case for Pace’s
return with the latest chapter in the Joe Pace Presents series: Praise for the Sanctuary.

The
Call to Worship is lead by Men of Standard’s Isaac Carree in a quiet
but soulful, “Fill This Place.” Then the Praise & Worship phase
launches with the New Orleans rhythms of “What A Mighty God” (featuring
Norman McDuffie) and some funk frosting in between. In the section
entitled And Now a Selection from the Choir, it should be renamed And
Now a Selection from Crystal Aiken, as the always reliable pipes are in
the building with “Just Like He Said He Would.” Speaking of reliable,
the Sermonic Selection, “Speak A Word” is brought to us by praise and
worship leader Tonya Baker, whose wide vocal range and rich tone is
first-rate. There are several moments when the choir carries the song
without a lead vocalist in that signature Pace traditional pocket, “Down
at the Cross” (the Communion section). The southern-soul out of Malaco,
Hi & Stax records subtlety frames “Till We Meet Again,” that serves
as the Benediction.

While Praise for the Sanctuary
possesses unquestionable vocal talent, a fundamentally sound choir and a
precious spirit throughout, there are a few issues with the DVD and the
sound mixing. There is only camera panning throughout the sixty minute
video which sometimes detracts from the musical presentation, and the
pictures are blurred in several places. As for the sound mixing, there
seems to be excessive vocal overdubbing than necessary, which was
especially noticeable during the otherwise emphatic congregation (from
Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio) participation on “Great Jehovah
God.” Otherwise, Joe Pace Presents Praise for the Sanctuary illustrates elegant praise and worship; that spares the entertainment value and keeps the focus on God.

Peggy Oliver

The Urban Music Scene