Search - Glad :: The Acapella Project III

With original songs penned by GLAD alum, Bob Kauflin, and stunning hymn adaptations by Don Hart, Kauflin and Paul Langford, The A Cappella Project III captures the purity and power that is Glad a cappella. Veteran songwriter and Charlotte, North Carolina, pastor, Bob Kauflin, helps GLAD stay focused on what God is doing in the Church in America. His original songs communicate the heart of GLAD's message. Kauflin's "Doer of Your Word" draws the listener's attention to the admonition of the first chapter of James to be doers, not simply hears, of the Word of God. The song opens with a 50's style do-wop bass vocal line and quickly develops into a pop/jazz groove. What does it mean to call You Lord of my life if I ignore the things you say? Help me remember that my greatest delight is following Your commands And give me strength to stand and be a doer of Your Word The bleakness of life apart from Christ is considered in Kauflin's "Make Us Shine." "We believe that the Church needs to stand out in stark contrast to popular culture while avoiding the tendency toward either accommodation or isolation," explains group founder and lead vocalist Ed Nalle. "We can not change who we are to gain popularity." GLAD exhort their listeners with the jazz-flavored, "Tell It Like It Is." Written by label-mate Ron Larson and arranged by Joe Hogue and Paul Langford, the song features vocal percussion created by digitally sampling Langford's voice and replaying the samples on cue via computer sequencer. A multiple Emmy, Addy, Mobius, Clio and Gold Medallion winner, Hogue, who is well-known for producing platinum-selling DC Talk, diva Donna Summer,, the Grammy-winning A Soulful Messiah, teamed again with GLAD member, Langford, on the Keith Green, Todd Fishkind, Randy Stonehill classic "Your Love Broke Through." With their smooth, homophonic treatment, GLAD accents both the song's lyrical quality and its message about awaking to new life in Christ. Another integral part of the a cappella Projects is GLAD's contemporary adaptations of traditional hymns. "There are so many churches today which are not directly connected with any mainline or denominational tradition. Consequently, a whole generation is experiencing more modern worship music, but is missing the rich heritage gleaned through exposure to hymns. GLAD hopes to bring to life the power and meaning found in the great hymns of the church by reintroducing them in a musical framework that is vibrant and contemporary," remarks Nalle. The A Cappella Project III features several well known hymns con-temporized by the tapestry of vocals that permeate the a capella style of GLAD. "Crown Him With Many Crowns," and Kauflin's adaptation of the Charles Wesley hymn, "Arise My Soul, Arise," are flowing treatments of these hymns which contemplate Christ's Passion and its efficacy for believers. Don Hart's arrangement of "The Solid Rock" is another example of the group's gift for finding a hymn with a timeless message and placing it in a contemporary musical setting.