A Deeper Faith II

The keyboardist composer so many just love to hate is actually much loved according to the sales figures of his many instrumental discs. This time out, he must figure everyone who listens will forgive him his musical trespasses, since he's aiming for the heart of contemporary Christian music with this solid and engaging worship CD. Tesh's light, sweeping music has always had a pleasant spirituality about it, but this is the first time he's come out and professed his Christian faith in a musical setting. The disc is a combination of worship songs sung by various men and women, featuring mostly up-tempo, guitar-driven productions; the one notable exception is the pretty ballad about the meaning of the experience, "The Heart of Worship." None of these renditions are any better or worse than a worship music fan might have heard on Michael W. Smith's worship disc or any of the WOW Worship samplers. But they are certainly likeable. Tesh adds two powerful instrumental tunes to the mix: the multi-movement "Monday's Mission" (which moves from a reflective orchestra into a feisty pop/rock jam) and the kindhearted piano solo title track. The only misfires are the handful of interludes which offer creepy vocalizations, spoken words, and oddball sounds that just distract from the heart of worship.