“Rejoice” stands out for its warmth, soulful vocals, and solid arrangements. Bonds and the IOP Singers (Instruments of Praise) have been on the gospel scene for ten years now; they come across as comfortable with one another and the material. They’re got a bit of an old-school flair to them, with Bonds’ often passionate exhortations and the occasional call-and-response between he and his team of worshippers (“Instruments of Praise”). The lively piano-driven “Work It Out” is straight-up old-school gospel, especially lyrically, a weaker area on “Rejoice.” There’s gotta be fresh ways to express the praises of our hearts to the God who has given us His creative spirit within.
But Will Bonds & IOP do love to worship, and they hit their stride on the melodic title track, the vocals soaring warm and soothing over the tight horn section. Vocalist Niecy Duhart is featured on several tracks (Beautiful ballad “Cry No More” and the string-rich “Here in Your Presence”) and with good reason: her vocals ring out with clear power, like the proverbial bell.
Other standouts include the R&B-flavored “Peace,” with its percolating opening and Chica Frederick’s oh-so-smooth Spanish chorus. I love the contemporary take on “It Is Well,” mixing the classic hymn’s well-known stanza and Bonds’ new lyrics. Bonds & IOP put it all together for a hot buttered groove over that simmering B3. The track serves nicely as the album’s centerpiece. Will Bonds & IOP have a lot to offer with “Rejoice.” It’ll be interesting to see what happens when they step up to the next level creatively.
