Various Artists WOW GOSPEL 2002 (2 CD SET)

Audio Remasterer: Chaz Harper.
Arranger: Richard Smallwood.
2002's collection of gospel winners is, in this series' grand tradition, chock-full of praise-worthy performances from both old faces and newcomers. Falling into the former category are a variety of Winans, including BeBe, CeCe, and Mario. The welcome guest appearance of Stevie Wonder on his own "Jesus Children of America" is almost as good as the original version on INNERVISIONS.
Virtue's "Gotta Worship" is notable in its genre-straddling pop-gospel appeal, while Beverly Crawford's "Run to the Water" is primal gospel funk at its most stirring. Bishop TD Jakes makes a welcome reappearance with the Potter's House Mass Choir on "When My Season Comes," which features the redoubtable cleric at his most persuasive. It's never clear how much emotion the good Bishop's larynx is going to be able to withstand, though it's obvious by the end of his performance that he'll live to fight for more souls another day. Fred Hammond and Radical For Christ's contribution is the characteristically smooth "You Are the Living Word," while Angela Spivey's penultimate "These Thorns" is old-school gospel at its finest.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Gospel