::ALBUM REVIEW::

Spanning a recording career of over fifteen years, the Tri-City Singers have thrilled and captivated the hearts of serious gospel fanatics with their lucrative harmonies and energetic contemporary-styled tunes; spanning musical styles such as house, R&B, urban contemporary and classical. On a serious tip, the Tri-City Singers have been a role model and an institution of excellence - helping modern-day choir leaders design a realistic image of their individual brand of gospel. It's pretty tough to even digest gospel music without them, but their final farewell as a corporate music ensemble at the famed Tabernacle in Atlanta last year ended all doubts and inked its realism into our consciousness. Finally released, "Finale" has been packaged in three forms: two separate acts featuring a companion DVD for each event and a beautiful limited collectors' edition combining both acts and DVDs. And you best believe that both collections (if purchased separately) contain major highlights and heavy-hitters. So if you are thinking about saving a buck with choosing a favorite "act", may the grace of God be on your side. Both collections are balanced out with medleys featuring previous hits as well as new material mostly penned by Lawrence himself. The only thing both individual releases bear in common is the inclusion of the lead single, "The Blessing of Abraham", and is placed on both DVD's as the project openers. "Abraham" contains a sing-a-long melody set to a rhythmic arrangement that generally flows like previous house-influenced favorites like Karen Clark-Sheard's "We Acknowledge You" and "The Best Is Yet To Come". The lyrical foundations of this number sets the tone for most of "Finale" as group members prepare to sail into newer areas of ministry.

Act One's highlights begin with "Giants", an original cut, featuring fun beats, creative phrasing and, of course, Lawrence's ability to piece the right lyrics in the right place. And when the vamp makes its entrance, the Tri-City Singers propels excitement and overwhelming zeal on top of their impressive vocals and a repetitive contemporary lick that's hard to forget. "Giants" even features a praise break going past the five minute mark. Another winner, Blanche McAllister bursts her jazzy tenor on the mid-tempo number, "These Nails". Deeply focused on St. Paul's theology of his personal relations with Christ's crucifixion found in Galatians 2:17-21, the song is a dramatic interpretation of the famed New Testament text and probably maybe one of the first songs to do such a thing. "God", featuring a spirited lead from Erica McCullough ("Lord, I Try"), flows like a mighty river with its passionate Richard Smallwood-esque orchestration and moving harmonies. While it bears a few interchanges with moving bars from well-known ballads, this song does its best to stay original and impresses easily. The medley on this addition features some surprises - some may be too difficult to digest. "Personal Friend Of Mine" gets the royal treatment with a swingtime/dancehall makeover. It even features that infamous Thomas Whitfield arranged melody taken from "Let Everything Praise Him". After a few untouched run-throughs of "I Am God", "O Peter", Twinkie Clark's "Cast Your Cares" and "I Walk With The King", the unforgettable "When Sunday Comes" ushers its majestic existence unto the project and Daryl Coley proves he still has it. Two bonus cuts rounds out the project; both previously released on various projects.

Act Two's highlights begin with "Encourage Yourself"; probably the next cut in line for a future single release. Sheri Jones-Moffett, whom has experienced success with Ted & Sheri and on many other projects, is convincing and believable; working the lyrics and the heavy musical arrangement. Another throwback can be found underneath the song's bridge as it borrows a line from Whitfield's "I'm Encouraged". Even though the song ends pretty quick when compared to other extended cuts, the song is still a majestic piece worth dwelling into. "God Is", penned by Calvin Bernard Rhone, fits well on Dewayne Woods' commanding vocals and his energetic worship leading. Thick bass from Mel Gray and Daniel Witherspoon's keyboard touches brighten up the color on this cut; proving to be one of the album's strongest original contemporary cuts. Add another throwback into the mix: "God Is", recorded by the late James Cleveland, gets remixed in the vamp. Shawn McMullen's "Matthew 28" flows like the classic 80s gospel-styled anthems like Whitfield's "Genesis" and Benny Cummings' "All Is Well", except with a rock-tinged introduction. While it's not as captivating when hearing the audio along, the effects of the cut can still be felt. It's still best to check this one out on DVD for better results. The rest of the highlights are tucked in the closing medley with "God's Favor" opening things up. LeJuene Thompson, Sheri Jones-Moffett and Blanche McAllister improvises the parts Kim Burrell, Karen Clark-Sheard and Kelly Price set into stone on the original with moderate satisfaction. "Seasons" gets revived once again with Walter Hawkins finishing up what he started while LaShun Pace steps in on "And Yet I'm Still Saved" with her incredible squalls and yells. But the ten-minute, epic-proportioned "It's Your Time" makes good listening with Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Darwin Hobbs and Karen Clark-Sheard showing off their individual chops with powerful impromptu ad-libs. The song works well with its smooth "quiet storm" R&B vibe; giving perfect room for each artist to showcase their unique musical giftings.

If there was a choice to make regarding which act marked the spot: maybe Act One would prevail. It has the meatiest of the new material. To best sum up Act One: five new cuts, a spicy medley and two bonus cuts, which reaches an incredible eighteen track listing. To best sum up Act Two: two or three new cuts, a brief introduction to Lawrence's new crew ready to surface to the forefront this year (the Murrills, DeWayne Woods) and a neat medley featuring gospel's greatest superstars. The albums are packaged well, produced well and places most of the attention on the crowned attraction: the Tri-City Singers. While this doesn't exceed the greatness of "Bible Stories" and "Tri-City4.com", "Finale" is much more colorful and feels complete when compared with "Go Get Your Life Back". While projects like this can be easily judged inappropriately because of the occasion at hand (ending of a career), the value of the new song additions and the wise packaging of a compact disc with a bonus DVD makes this event more than just a mere collectors' item. The entire catalogue of "Finale" pretty much sums up the essence of the iconic Tri-City Singers. We will still miss this group - the group that created Donald Lawrence's legacy and kept the gospel choir sound a dominate force on the charts. Still this is a powerful way to conclude a very incredible and "well-done" career.