As one of Gospel's celebrated traditional divas, Dottie Peoples can always be trusted to bring home the church flava. On her new project, Show Up & Show Out, she does just that.

Recorded live in Decatur, Georgia at her New Birth Missionary Baptist Church home, a combo of the familiar and the fresh is presented, with The Peoples Choice Chorale in support and Peoples' renowned band as tight as ever.

With traditional credentials as strong as hers, Peoples can afford to stretch into territory that peers might find intimidating.

With musical director John Croslan II blazing the trail for her, Peoples sets up camp in a land familiar to the funk, as horn-filled stomps characterize entries such as the emphatic “God’s Grace” from Croslan’s pen and “Pray Until Something Happens” from noted traditional songwriter Minister Eddie Robinson (see album review). On both rhythmic cuts, brassy blares performed and arranged by The Bozy “N” Barry lift the material to heights that Peoples maintains with her knack for punchy delivery and shouts.

She also sets foot in lullaby territory with the gracious “Way Back When”. And on “Every Knee Shall Bow”, she joins forces with praise & worship’s Gary Oliver (see album review) in a finely mellowed tune from David Staton that takes full advantage of the rich pipes of both soloists.

The title cut shares in the horn fest, with this being the song most likely to resonate with fans of Dottie's previous hits such as “On Time God” and “Count On God”.

Settling back on her familiar ‘songbird of the South’ perch, you’ll find classic Peoples balladry on “When God Is Silent”, a cut introduced with an edifying sermonette by her pastor, Bishop Eddie L. Long.

“I Exalt Thee” brings a deliberately tuneful melody from Smokie Norful (last heard on The Tommies’ Real album), as Peoples makes the song her own by way of distinctive phrasing on both the smooth and the bouncy elements of the composition.

AIR Gospel’s headline artist makes it work again on Show Up & Show Out, with an engaging and eclectic blend of styles. That's right, it’s Dottie Peoples all the way.