ALBUM DESCRIPTION

**ABOUT THE ALBUM / ARTIST**

Evangelist Sonny Okosuns is one of Africa's most consistent gospel artists. Not a year goes by that he does not release a blockbuster album. "Celebrate & Worship in Caribbean Rhythms," is chart-topping compilation taken from various releases throughout his enduring career. Every single on this recording was a major hit in gospel arena. Each song is done in English and ALL songs are decidedly reggae. These are Reggae songs of praise to the Father--coming straight from the Motherland.

**SONG BY SONG DESCRIPTION**

Track one (Hosannah) starts off the album with an attitude of Praise and worship, giving "All glory to the Lord." The foundation of this song is a gospel interpretation of Buju's "Love Sponge" rhythm, but the frequent chord d changes take this track in a new direction. With a lead vocal style similar to Gospel reggae pioneer Lester Lewis, Sonny is joined by a choir of angelic female vocalists. This is by far the strongest track on the album.

Following is another recognizable rhythm taken directly from Bob Marley?s"No Woman, No Cry." Every line of this song follows the King of Reggae's original melody to a "T." But the lyrics have been changed, adapting the common Christian slogan "No Jesus no life, Know Jesus Know life." The instruments and vocals are tight on this tune, even rivaling the production of Bob's original recording. If you like to sing Christian songs using familiar secular rhythms and melodies, then you will love this track. In the same vein is the next single, yet another secular hit done inna Christian stylee. But this time Sonny blatantly borrows the melodies and lyrics from Paul MCartney's #1 recording "Let it Be." While the chorusess closely parallels the original, the verses transition the listener into a one drop rhythm with slide guitar licks while Sonny proudly declares "Jesus is the answer--Let it be."

Track four starts off the first of two medleys on the album. Despite a glitch in the beginning of this song, the lyrics ring out true, "all those bad things I used to do, I do them no more." After about a minute and a half of the monotonous vocal and keyboard intro, I was wondering why this song was included on an album boasting Caribbean rhythmic contents-- then just in the nick of time, a roots reggae groove jump starts this flailing song. While this track may be more at home in a Jamaican church than at a secular reggae festival, the inspiring lyrics are sure to encourage those of the faith.

The upbeat and conservative major key reggae continues with track # 6, "Save Our Souls." Delivering some variety to this recording, the chorus on this tune is sung by a group of female vocalists. But this song is a little too sugary sweet and bright for my taste. Note: somehow in the mastering of this album, the track numbers got messed up. The end result is 13 tracks on a CD that lists 11 tracks. I guess that the medleys are considered more than one track on the CD, but not on the back of the album--no worries.

Keyboard horns kick off "Hallelujah," an up-beat light-hearted reggae mover. This is a song of praise sung to Jesus, glorifying Him for His goodness. On "This is the Day," it is time to "enter His gates with thanksgiving our hearts and enter His courts with praise." This short song has "Made Me Glad" with its up tempo danchall beat. Contrasting the previous song, the long (7:18) "Mt. Zion" is another one drop groove that speaks of this sacred hill from a biblical point of view. In between the verses Sonny boldly quotes Psalms that refer to this holy place. Taking it up another level, on the next track the Nigerian evangelist proudly declares that "We are here to worship the King of Kings" over a dancehall mix. An instrumental outro ends this song on a high note. The reggae worship continues with a split track medley of "Who is Like Unto Thee" and the strong "Jesus Knows the Way," stating that ?Jesus knows thee way through the wilderness, all I've got to do is to follow." "What Matter of Man" keeps the roots/rock/reggae flowing with a slight hip hop beat on the "Hallelujah" section for track 12, while "Jesus Give Me Your Light" rounds off this extremely consistent reggae worship album.

**CONCLUSION**

This album is best described by its title; "Celebrate and Worship In Caribbean Rhythms." It is a light, upbeat album of praise and worship done inna easy listening reggae style. Without minor keys, growling vocals or thick patois, this album is easy to digest for the hard-core reggae intolerant. As a reggae enthusiast, it is my opinion that the greatest
strength of this album is its consistency. The recording never strays away from its even keel reggae feel. While Sonny may never be invited to perform at a Sting reggae festival in Kingston, Jamaica, don't be surprised if he is invited to play at your local neighborhood church. With his mellow saccharine sounds, this reggae evangelist will have many opportunities to take the reggae genre into new venues and perform in front of new audiences--forwarding the vibe every time!

If you like Carlene Davis, Claudelle Clarke, Reggae Songs of Praise, Reggae Praise or any other praise & worship album, you should definitely consider adding this release to your righteous reggae collection. Pick up a copy today and find out why each and every song on this album was a major hit single in the Nigerian Gospel arena.