Genre: R&B/Urban, Traditional/Contemporary Gospel, Worship
For fans of: Andrae Crouch and the Disciples, Fred Hammond and Radical for Christ, Earth Wind & Fire, Tommy Walker
Label: Integrity Gospel

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Israel and New Breed has achieved a synthesis of music and message that is electrifying and activating audiences inside and outside of traditional church walls. Most of their albums have to be recorded before live audiences to capture their singular infectious energy. Leader, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Israel Houghton has seen his compositions become integral components for progressive now-generation churches. Flanked by voices filled ith joy, purpose and conviction singing over galvanizing arrangements of music with African, Middle Eastern and South American slants—like Earth Wind & Fire meets Pat Metheny Group—Israel and New Breed have swiftly amassed a legion of followers that crosses generational lines with popularity across African American, Latin and White listener lines. And as barriers are blasted away, the sprawling cutting-edge unit has been fittingly graced with two Gold-selling albums, four Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award and four 2007 Grammy Award nominations, resulting in a Grammy for Best Traditional Gospel Album for the scorching Alive in South Africa project. Ironically, there is very little that is "traditional" about the way Israel and his group have been working their evangelical magic.

The group's sixth Integrity Music CD, A Deeper Level (recorded live at the annual A Deeper Level Conference in Houston) rejoices in the glorious strides they've already achieved while revealing a higher calling for Christians to become more engaged in the work God has for all to do on our troubled planet. The seriousness with which this project was helmed was evident in the 40-day fast that preceded Israel and New Breed's three days of recording, its purpose to petition the Lord to give everyone who hears the new music a heart to go deeper in worship that leads to acts of compassion and justice. The songs are the soundtrack to a companion book to be issued by Whitaker House Publishers that more explicitly details the Christian's responsibility to be at the forefront of global compassion and justice. In short, A Deeper Level represents the Power of God on Earth at a time when it is stronger than ever yet more desperately needed than ever.

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