“It’s only January and, by far, CompassionART will be the event album of 2009.” 

-J Man

That’s a bold statement and a long call considering there’s eleven more months in the year after this album releases, isn’t it?   But after one listen I think you’ll agree with me wholeheartedly.  CompassionART is a charity that joins the dots between art and poverty. It raises money to help breathe life into the poorest communities, restoring hope and igniting justice.  Envisioned by Martin Smith of deliriou5, this project takes artistic involvement in a whole new direction. 

It all started with a retreat of some of Christian music’s top artists and worship leaders to create original songs written and performed specifically for this project.  The artists even chose to give all of their royalties (performance and songwriting) to this grand plan to help eradicate world hunger. 

A few months ago, I was working with an author/producer, Matt Bronleewe, to promote his latest literary effort, House Of Wolves.  What was really on both of the tips of our tongues though was talking about his biggest musical project to date.  Here’s what he had to say about his involvement with the album: 

Bronleewe continues about the grand scale of this effort, “Sure it would have been great if it had just been the SUPER project, but it’s more than that as we’re all giving our time to eradicate world hunger through this charitable effort.  I really don’t think something like this could happen under any other circumstances.  To share with Martin the “grandiose” idea of putting feet to all these things we talk about and claim to believe as Christians is just wonderful.”

And it’s wonderful for the artists, writers, and especially fans of these artists that represent CCM’s “cream of the crop”.  Imagine a grand theatre, you in the audience and on the stage Chris Tomlin and Martin Smith compelling us to Come To The Water.  With a little help from Kirk Franklin, they kick this worship experience off with an explosion that only continues throughout the record.  No, this isn’t a live project – but it will inspire you to LIVE.  Get the picture? 

Next up it’s Israel Houghton and Darlene Zschech encouraging the Church to rise and Shout Praise.  Join two of the world’s most known worship leaders with Tobymac and it’ll be a song you’ll never forget or quit singing once you get the beat. 

Across the sea, one of the modern worship movement’s biggest leaders brings us a new offering, King of Wonders.  Here Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, and Joel Houston inspire us all to worship the King who is worthy of everything and more than we could ever offer. 

Paul Baloche, the writer who brought us Above All, joins with the Lakewood Choir to Lead Me To The Rock.  One of the most easily accessible of the cuts, I’m sure this one will find itself in the worship sets of churches across the world. 

Tim Hughes and Steven Curtis Chapman join together to bring another anthem of praise in We Won’t Stay Silent.  This track is one of the album’s best.  Chapman and Hughes’ vocals fit together seamlessly as they offer the Church encouragement to rise and shout to the heavens. 

One of the most beautifully orchestrated tracks is Highly Favoured.  Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith unite with the Watoto Children’s Choir to remind us that we are chosen by the King to be sons and daughters of royalty. 

Ever wondered what it would sound like to take an artist COMPLETELY out of their musical comfort zone and see what happens?  That’s what Martin Smith did on Fill My Cup.  With the help of Lakewood and CeCe Winans he joined his English vocals with a country gospel cut that will have everyone in the church house singing right along. 

Friend Of The Poor, perhaps the lyric leaning itself most to the record’s purpose, joins Leeland Mooring and Andy Park as they present the voice of the poor in an earnest call for help and assistance. 

King Of The Broken continues in the same vein as the preceding track as Zschech, Houghton, Mooring, and Lakewood cry out to the King who is the healer and salvation of every soul.  The artists’ vocals on this cut are a surprising blend as they come from two different sides of CCM’s spectrum. 

You Have Shown Us borrows lyrics from one of Chapman’s earlier songs (The Walk), and mixed with Tomlin and Baloche’s impacting vocals, begins to bring the CD to a successful close.  Chapman’s heart shows through this lyric as he sings on the bridge about the widows and the orphans who need our care and love. 

Until The Day is filled with smooth vocals and orchestration offered by Graham Kendrick and Zschech – a match up that works wonders for the song.  …Day is a song of trust in the Savior who will keep us until the day when He takes us home. 

I never thought I’d say this but I think putting a Tobymac/Kirk Franklin collaboration on the project was a misstep in the fluidity of the material.  Don’t get me wrong, this is a great song and one of the best the two have ever done together, but in this experience of worship in action, it stands out like a big black dot in the middle of a masterpiece by Michelangelo would.  Stand alone, it’s a great song – in the package it just doesn’t fit.  You make your own call. 

So Great – the album’s first single – follows with Michael W. Smith, Houghton, and Christy Nockels offering a great vocal collaboration with Lakewood.  The first time I heard the song was last year at the Dove Awards, and it still inspires my times of worship to this day. 

Closing this album is a cut shared by Martin Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman that puts a fitting end on this CD filled with passionate anthems that will reach heaven as we sing loud and clear.  There Is Always A Song portrays Christ’s heart shown through His people for the poor.

This project, effort, initiative – call it what you like – is showing the Church how to become active in our world by putting aside our differences and joining together for a cause that will affect all mankind. 

So I hope when it releases to America in January you’re one of the first ones to “drop it” for CompassionART and pick up your own copy that will not only affect your life but the lives of the world’s poor across the seas and lands of this earth that is not our home. 

Until Next Time…

The J Man