"Joshua's Army"

  This recording contains the worship-highlights of a three-hour evening of praise at The Sojourn Church, Carrollton, Texas - though this ‘condensed’ set in fact extends to over 70 minutes of beautiful and original music!
  Worship is led chiefly by Scott Brenner, already with a devotional solo recording to his name ('Draw Near To Me'), he also features on the Vineyard TTFH 23 album 'Before You Now' alongside Terry Butler.
  Brenner wrote or co-wrote most of the material for this venture, being involved also in it's production.  Many of the compositions are piano-based (again care of Mr Brenner), and feature Scott's delicate and affective vocals.  These are contrasted to great effect on numerous tracks by the distinctive, powerful, and even more emotive vocal prowess of one Andre Ashby.
  Some songs such as 'I Humble Myself' and 'Enter In', are wonderfully tender ballads, whist others, also beginning gently, rise to emotional heights - eg 'Changed By Your Love' and 'Capture My Heart'.  Along with these are one or two 'rolling' gospel numbers as well as a couple of punchy 'warfare' anthems, one of which gives the album it's title. As you can see, there's plenty of diversity here, further shown in 'Purify My Heart', where Andre is joined on lead vocals by accomplished worship-leader JoAnn McFatter, who also wrote this song.
  This is a gorgeous and unique offering of genuine worship. I highly commend it.

"Paradise Is Waiting"

  "Paradise Is Waiting", released simultaneously with "The Kingdom and the Power", showcases this artist doing what he does best; releasing beautiful and tender worship songs to the Lord. Similar in attitude to Scott's previous output "Draw Near To Me", a devotional album 'for your quiet time', this is music designed to still and relax, but also to draw you within the veil, into the place of holiness.
  The project is introduced by some short readings from the Psalms, backed by the atmospheric sounds of bagpipes and bodhran! Then flows, like a gentle but luscious stream, 10 songs and 70 minutes of spiritual depth and intimacy. All the music was written by Brenner, who also provides delicate piano backing, the main and often the only instrumental accompaniment. No heavy percussion, no driving guitars, the sound remains soothing yet inspiring all the way. Accompaniment does come however by way of cello on tracks like 'O my Beloved', and care of Lisa Cuellar's irresistible harmony vocals throughout. Scott's tender voice often reminds me of the silky vocals of English heart-throb Chris De Burgh, though the ballads here are offered to another, a higher Love.
  Included on the recording is one short spontaneous song and two pieces taken from Scott's '98 "Joshua's Army" venture. The album climaxes with the sensitively worshipful 'Hosanna' and the closing 'Enter In', lasting a full 20 minutes between the two. "Paradise Is Waiting" - why don't you enter and enjoy?

Reviews by tom lennie

House of Prayer Series
Songs of Sojourn
Scott Brenner, JoAnn McFatter, Andre Ashby