Reviewed by A T Bradford

'Azusa The Next Generation' showcases the big voice and even bigger heart of Hezekiah Walker, founder pastor of New York's East Side Love Tabernacle and bishop prelate of the Pentecostal Churches of Jesus Christ denomination. The music reflects the black American gospel-Pentecostal roots of Walker's formative 1980s years with the Grammy Award-winning Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. Call and response features strongly in "Every Praise" (under-pinned by Jeffery Lesley on drums and Justin Cunningham on bass) and "More Than A Conqueror" (featuring Timiney Figueroa on vocals and Jules Bartholomew on keys and organ). "Breakthrough" has Walker's preaching effectively intersecting with Donnie McClurkin's soaring vocal harmonies - 'You are God, you are greater than anything, you are my breakthrough.' "Grace" introduces a younger vocal feel with Brian Courtney Wilson, supported by Ronald Black on synthesiser and Joeworn Martin on organ. Walker's album majors on announcing spiritual truths in the context of choral worship; as such the lyrics build faith and will be especially popular among believers with a Pentecostal heritage.

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