self-titled
Triumphant Quartet
Rating: 4 1/2 STARS
Label: Daywind Records
Producer: Steve Mauldin
Website: http://www.triumphantquartet.com and http://www.daywindrecords.com
Song Titles: "One Holy Morning," "Forgave Me, Saved Me, Raised Me," "Back To Me," "Don't Let The Sandals Fool Ya," "Across The River," "Now He Knows What Heaven's All About," "Hey Jonah," "Rock Bottom," "Love Is The Key," and "I'd Tell You About Jesus"
Triumphant Quartet is back with a follow-up to 2004's 5-Star rated Home Free CD. The new self-titled CD is produced, arranged, and orchestrated by Steve Mauldin . The release of this CD in retail stores is set for December 2005, so you're getting a nice advanced preview if you're reading this review shortly after it was written.
"Don't Let The Sandals Fool Ya" is the group's first radio single from the new CD. It should do well on the charts with this catchy arrangement and the lyrical hook expressed in the title. The opening song, "One Holy Morning," is the best cut overall, though. The arrangement begins with a movie soundtrack feel that carries through the first verse, then the chorus kicks in, blending orchestrated elements with a familiar Southern Gospel rhythm. "One Holy Morning" has some great lyrics on the topic of Christ's resurrection, too, from the songwriting team of Niles Borop and Daryl Williams . This is really an Easter song, so perhaps Daywind will push it as a single early next year to coincide with the season.
An elaborate piano intro by Jeff Stice opens the Jerry Kelso / Sue C. Smith tune "Forgave Me, Saved Me, Raised Me." This song is in a classic Southern quartet style showcasing tenor David Sutton . Other song highlights on Triumphant Quartet's new project include "Across The River" (a slow song featuring Eric Bennett ), "Hey Jonah" (an uptempo fun number with plenty of brass horn stabs, co-written by Scott Inman and Diane Wilkinson ), and "Love Is The Key" (written by Stice and featuring a jazz vocal intro). Following the intro, "Love Is The Key" kicks the tempo up considerably and gives Bennett a chance to shine by dropping out the bottom on a few notes. There's so many places they could have gone with this tune by developing it further, though. It feels way too short at just under two minutes. David Sutton is featured on the easy going closing track titled "I'd Tell You About Jesus." This song may never be sent to radio, but it's an excellent "reason why we sing" type song that would work well near the end of a live concert.
While Triumphant Quartet lacks some of the spontanaity that made Home Free so much fun from beginning to end, it has several moments that capture a similar feel. Steve Mauldin's arrangements are more detail oriented, but I miss some of the attention grabbing elements Otis Forrest incorporated in the previous project. Overall, this is a very solid 4 1/2 Star level product. Any fan of male quartet music should enjoy it.
by David Bruce Murray