::ALBUM REVIEW::

It seems like there is no avenue in Christendom Juanita Bynum has not trod. Her range of positions which include author, preacher and TV host continue to escalate with more embellishment than probably any other popular figure in the Body of Christ. So why would it amaze anyone in the Gospel community to see the renowned prophetess tackle a gospel/praise-and-worship project. Well, it shouldn't since she has attempted this feat several times before. Actually she did it with great success. Her "Morning Glory, Vol. 1: Peace" and "Behind The Veil: Morning Glory Vol. 2" projects became instant underground classics and launched worship favorites to the forefront including "Peace" and "Like The Dew". She even dueted with the Williams Brothers' on their 2000 hit, "Becase You Loved Me". Yet mainstream failed to embrace both projects as well as her musical attempts due to its oddly-constructed song order and its epic proportionate time lengths. Juanita overcomes all odds with her latest adventure in the music world, "A Piece Of My Passion"; a double-disc "sort of" reflection of her honest interpretation of a modern worship record.

With an edge on herself heavily created by producer Myron Williams, she kicks things off with a riveting, upbeat praise jam, "Break Forth Praise". The celebratory vibe is accented with slick drum beats from Robert Searight, infectious background vocals from the Maurice Culpepper Singers (Atlanta) and added vocodor effects helping to update Bynum's obvious uncontrollable vibrato. Another plus to the song is the heavy brass arrangements crafted by the legendary Lloyd Barry, with assistance from co-producer Robert W. "JoJo" Hill. Radio should have fun eating this song up. Count this the last uptempo song on this disc. The rest is a spiraling, down-hill journey of worship music. Great part about this is the best are in the very front of this adventure. Flowing in the same vein as her previous popular ballads, "Above All Else", a popular worship tune penned by Rebecca St. James, is a heartfelt rendition featuring colorful strings and a moving acoustic guitar from Tim Mole. Flowing in the same vein is Wess Tuttle's "Heart's Desire" with Michael Bereal rendering a smooth piano accompaniment with Bynum's soulful vocals. The lyrical foundation here is strong as she pours her innermost desire to love God on the right notes. The song flows directly into "You Are Great"; creating an emotional rollercoaster filled with a thunderous vamp, outbursts of praise and a dynamic orchestrata befitting for an animated Disney classic. The power tends to fade as the latter songs are played. She moderately revisits "You Are Holy" (made popular in urban worship circles by Lisa McClendon and Byron Cage). She tags "Holy Holy Holy" to the rendition with hopes to add a newfound creativity to the mix. It's a catchy idea, but the song's production sounds pretty much like the rest of the slow selections offered here. Nothing different. Bynum's attempts of reliving the atmosphere of a live church service on her medley of retro-congregational songs ("Jesus What A Wonder", "He's A Wonder In My Soul", "Yes", "My Soul Seeks To Please Him") are far from being authentic. It just doesn't capture the same intensity as Bynum in a live setting. From the unexciting organ chords to the tedious responses from background singers, the songs may have been more accepted if they were captured in a live setting and maybe shortened with the song length. Add in a good dose of Bynum's charging exhortations and things would have taking a turn for the better.

Her second disc is patterned like the first: except the order is reversed. A bunch of slow-tempo worship standards and a fast number for a feel-good benediction. Hillsong' favorites "Any Crown" and "You Are You Are" are revisited, while Integrity Music's Stephen Hurd submits "Overflow"; a passionate song desiring a greal deal of attention. Bynum uses her trademark exhortations to cue the song in - which ultimately helps the song's acceptance. The song is an overbearingly seventeen minutes long. Too long for any listener, but probably just perfect for any person desiring intimate devotional time with God. Charge it to the vamp, which is looped dozens of times. Melvin Crispell's "Wonderful Is Your Name" is revived with Bynum, of course, providing the lead and raging, brassy horns giving a vibrant touch to the engaging melody. If only the album exhibited more uptempo songs like this, maybe this would have been a grand installment for this year's album early releases. But it is the lack of those songs, as well as Bynum's tamed spirit in the studio, that makes this project an irregular musical creation. While many will credit Bynum with having the same intensity of a youthful Shirley Caesar, her vocals are blurred with strange vibrato deliveries and the lack of sensational "soulful" improvisation and ad-libs - the latter element just makes the perfect gospel record. Surely, Bynum gains good ground for changing producers on this round; helping to update her sound and even her musical abilities. But after three projects bearing an identical likeness with its music patterns, it is evident that Bynum has no desire to really please gospel lovers or serious music buffs. It's all about worship for her - but even good praise-and-worship albums should flow in a direction that is easy on its listeners. And a proportionate form of balance is a factor no artist should neglect.

By the way, it would have been really nice to know of the publishing credits in the linear notes. Just knowing the writers by their name is unfair to those that may want to know historical details on the songs' origins. Plus, never type your credits in CAP letters. When the font is small and the letters are cap-sized, it's tough on the eyes to read. The pink, black and white letters and colors were nice on the eyes, but the features mentioned above enclosed on the inside of the album's jacket hurt the packaging image.