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Michael Brooks

Michael Brooks & Royal Priesthood

Ask most any Gospel music afficianado, and they’ll tell you that the name of Michael Brooks is associated with some of the biggest Gospel groups in the past decades, most notably as an original member of Commissioned and the founder and producer of Witness, but also significantly linked as producer and impetus behind a variety of other artists, from the solo albums of his wife, Lisa Page-Brooks, to the Young Artist for Christ Workshop, to Totally Committed, Lexi, The Nation and others.

CDWith the debut of Michael Brooks & Royal Priesthood, the fabled producer/songwriter has now also re-joined the ranks of artist. This new 22-member choir collective, birthed out of Brooks' Southfield, Michigan based Restoration Fellowship Church International, which he founded and began pastoring in 1997, focuses on praise and worship.

Brooks' always-excellent, scripture-based songwriting abounds on the project. On the mid-tempo "I Say Thank You", with guest lead from Lisa Page-Brooks, the choir pours out their unadultered praise.

"Nothing’s Too Hard For Him" is an infectious cut, with an urban appeal. Anchored by a driving track, the song features both Jay Brooks and Lavonia Ratliff, who ad lib their way throughout the jam. Royal Priesthood takes hold of "Great King" and fosters a simmering groove of praise. On the beat-heavy "I Am Encouraged", guitarist Joe Foster drops some choice riffs over the choir's intricate weave of the lyrical motifs on the chorus.

On some cuts, there’s a definite throwback to that patented Witness vocal sound, albeit in a choir setting. For example, on "Words", the flowing verse and chorus are tightly arranged in harmonic settings, as the male lead vocalist butters the cut with a mix of wordless praise and echoes of the choir’s lines —"words that come from my heart of praise".

Other songs to put a star beside are "High And Lifted Up" and "I Will Do What’s Right", with Latia Page on the mic.

Michael Brooks' return to the artist fold with Royal Priesthood is a welcome one —and one that was long overdue.



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Producer: Michael Brooks
album release date: August, 2005
Michael Brooks Music / Comin Atcha Music


— reviewed by Gerard Bonner



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