Luther Barnes has been going strong for twenty years now on AIR Gospel, delivering the Gospel inspired by the tried and true style made famous by his father Rev. F.C. Barnes but tweaked with his own stamp of originality.

Come Fly With Me is first project in which Barnes comes billed exclusively under his own name. And yet, it’s an album filled with some wonderful cameo moments as familiar friends and family stop from song to song.

Label-mate Maurette Brown Clark guests on the classic “Oh, How I Love Jesus”, fitting perfectly into the familiar tune. Barnes intros the piece before Brown Clark enters with her clear vocals and sweet phrasing. The Red Budd Gospel Choir and Mark Greene Family and Friends join in.

At the opposite end of he vocal spectrum is “Satan Take Your Hands Off Of Me”, a strongly traditional stomp written by Barnes that features the legendary Joe Ligon. Plenty of horns from Boyz ‘N Barry heavily spice the number —as if it needed any more after Ligon gets through with it.

The title track is guest-fest about being heaven-bound, with Doug and Melvin Williams, Darwin Hobbs and Dottie Peoples adding their vocals to Barnes’, and with neice Deborah Barnes lending her distinctive touch.

One of catchiest songs on the album is “If You Wait On The Lord”, featuring Wanda Barnes out front. Celebratory and again horn-infused, it’s a choir rouser with strong hooks and memorable chord changes.

The First Lady of the Saxophone, Angélla Christie, adds flava to “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” as Lisa Barnes takes the mic.

In between all these selections are several great solo moments from Luther Barnes himself. Especially noteworthy is “Half A Man”, a gently reflective ballad that says: “Lord, I’ve tried to make it but I finally understand that without You I’m only half a man.”

As perhaps one of Gospel’s most underrated artists, Come Fly With Me from Luther Barnes stands out as simply great Gospel.