Ricky Dillard, Choirmaster II | Album Review 💿

Grammy-nominated gospel singer, songwriter, and choirmaster Ricky Dillard delivers another fantastic live gospel album with Choirmaster II. 

We all need encouragement sometimes.  Sometimes, life is rough – the storms can be overwhelming.  One of the best ways to be encouraged and uplifted is through gospel music.  Gospel is spirited, and speaks to the all-knowing, merciful, and all-powerful God. Ricky Dillard is an anointed gospel singer, songwriter, and choirmaster.  Him and his choir make awesome music that elevates the spirit – makes the soul feel happy. Following marvelous efforts with Choirmaster (2020) and Breakthrough: The Exodus (2022), Dillard blesses us once again with the utterly sublime Choirmaster II.  There are no miscues to be found on this live effort.  Dillard and company truly make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

“I Love The Lord”

“I love the Lord, I love the Lord, I love the Lord” – what a profession of faith! On the opener from Choirmaster II, ⭐️ “I Love The Lord”, Ricky Dillard and his anointed choir give all the praise to The Lord. Dillard penned this thoughtful song alongside Terrence J Dooley.  He also produces alongside Quadrius Salters.  It’s hard not to be spiritually refreshed listening to this powerful affirmation of faith. The main lyrics continue, in all their glorious praise: “I love the Lord, I really, really love the Lord / I love the Lord, I love the Lord, I love the Lord.” Dillard and company further amplify the praise with variations.  At one point, the Choir affirms, “He’s been so good, He’s been so good, He’s been so Good.” More frequently, they assert, with riffs by Ricky,  “Yes I love Him / And I adore Him / I lift my hands / I bow before Him / Deep in my heart / I really, really love the Lord / I love the Lord, I love the Lord, I love the Lord.”  Beyond the spirited lyrics and high-flying vocals, the instrumental is EVERYTHING! The jubilant sounds of the keys! The exalting trumpets! The robust bass line! It all contributes to the spiritual experience.  Also, a lit, complex harmonic progression, multiple key changes, and vamps amplify the praise!  “I Love The Lord” is a masterclass in beginning a gospel LP.

The praise doesn’t cease with ⭐️ “Bless Your Name,” another jubilant ode to The Most High.  Like “I Love The Lord,” both voices and the accompaniment are dynamic to the nth degree.  The musicianship is top-notch, from those ambitious choral harmonies, as well as the adventurous underlying harmonic scheme.  Clearly, Dillard and company exemplify ‘making a joyful noise.’ ⭐️ “Jesus Jesus Jesus”  gives Choirmaster II one of its highest-flying moments, featuring commanding lead vocals by Lisa Knowles-Smith.  In addition to her gritty testament to the power of J-E-S-U-S, she gets a punchy choral response – the call and response form at its best. When Dillard and company vamp on this seven minute juggernaut, it’s EVERYTHING! Meanwhile, the backdrop keeps on backdropping, with its bright keyboards, athletic bass line, and biting trumpets.  Of course, shout out Dillard and Pharis Evans for the utterly sublime songwriting.

The good, uplifting vibes continue on ⭐️ “Hold On”: “Oh my brother, oh my sister / You can make it if you just hold on.”  That’s an encouraging message fo’ sho’! Furthermore, the music is incredibly energetic, aimed at hitting you right in the soul. Don’t give up, let alone give into the devil – HOLD ONNN! Jason Clayborn sounds marvelous on the reverent ballad, ⭐️ “Not Far Away.” The messaging continues to be on-point. Trials and tribulations can bring you down, and make you want to give up.  However, tests strengthen faith and make you stronger ultimately.  Clayborn, Dillard, and choir inform us that the blessing – the deliverance from an arduous time – is not far away.  Furthermore, God never fails – He’s NOT and NEVER far away.  Seven celestial minutes of encouragement.

Following a couple of extended cuts, “Lord You’re Great” is briefer, running under three-and-a-half minutes.  It contrasts the slower “Not Far Away,” picking up the tempo.  The modus operandi is similar to everything else on Choirmaster II – God is awesome! Those horns pop, the bass line anchors, and those lead vocals – anointed! The tempo slackens once more on ⭐️ “Nobody But Jesus,” another reverent, long-playing number.  Notably, we get lead vocals by Dillard, following a thoughtful, ministering, spoken word intro.  Dillard proceeds to get the choir involved, concocting another holy, worshipful gem. Dillard hands over the lead to Shantell Hankerson who is nothing short of electric. Easily, one of the best songs on a stacked album.

The hits keep on coming on Choirmaster II.  “Fill Us Once Again” earns the honors as one of the funkiest gospel records I’ve heard in years.  Those instrumental riffs – fabulous to the nth degree! Once again, Ricky Dillard handles the lead early on, giving his all with gritty and powerful vocals. The premise of the song is simple. We need HIM, God, to fill us – restore us! The body movement is constant on this refreshing, lively gospel banger! It’s followed by the crème de la crème of Choirmaster II, the nine-minute juggernaut, “When I Think.”

Dillard penned ⭐️ “When I Think” alongside Derrick Hall and gospel giant, Richard Smallwood. What a blessing it is! Once more on “When I Think,” the tempo slackens, while the backdrop is lush and dramatic.  The choral vocals early on are warm, recalling the goodness of Jesus.  The choral arrangement is nothing short of fire. The entirety of the production is fire too. Notably, “When I Think” is one of the few records from Choirmaster II that embraces a minor key.  The darkness isn’t hellish though – it brings a unique and welcome contrast.  Also, the final chord (of the main part of the song) is major, which is fitting.  Melodically, this song is terrific.

Choirmaster II ends with two spirited, up-tempo gospel bangers.  Both “Pray Through” and “I Know What Prayer Can Do” are connected, which makes this a mean one-two punch! Again, it’s hard to resist dancing (for Jesus of course) with those agile instrumental riffs, that Pentecostal gospel beat, athletic bass line, and of course, call and response at its finest.  Who nails vamps the best? The gospel musicians, of course!

Ricky Dillard is the man.  He is a choirmaster extraordinaire.  He gets the best out of the choir, as well as the featured guests and soloists on Choirmaster II.  His songwriting is truly elite, as he’s gives all the honor and the glory to God.  If you need a spiritual refresh in 2024, look to God first and foremost. But, you should also take a listen to Choirmaster II – you won’t regret it!

⭐️ Gems: “I Love The Lord,” “Bless Your Name,” “Jesus Jesus Jesus,” “Hold On,” “Not Far Away,” “Nobody But Jesus,” “Fill Us Once Again” & “When I Think”

🎙 Ricky Dillard • 💿 Choirmaster II • 🏷 Capitol CMG, Inc. • 📅 1.26.24

[📷: Brent Faulkner/ The Musical Hype; Capitol CMG, Inc.; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]