After This

Personnel: Minon Bolton, Desiree Anderson, Nicky Richardson, Trina Hairston, Kasima Geter, Melissa Bailey, Tiffany Andrews-Woodside, Melissa Bathea, Felicia Wilson (alto); Aaron Newton, Marc Britt, Dave McClure, Devin Robinson, Anton Adams, Stephon Hawkins, Woodrow Vereen, Javon White (tenor); Vindell Smith, Chris Russo (guitar); Lloyd Barry (strings, horns); Charles "Tony" Homer (strings); Philip Lassiter (horns); David Brown Jr. (organ, keyboards); Mike Davis, Tom Powell (organ); Eric Davis, Adam Askew (keyboards); Mike Clemmons, Larone McMillian (drums); Javier Solís, Rodney Kennedy (percussion); Rashad McPherson, Denise Powell, Erica Wilkins, Teralyn Moore (background vocals).
Recording information: Carriage House Studios, Stamford, CT; First Cathedral Church, Bloomfield, CT.
Photographers: Ron Cadiz; T'rah Holliday.
Be it the effervescent choir leader and his drill-sergeant-meets-preacher way of delivering the call and response, or be it that the audience levels are just pumped up real high, J.J. Hairston's 2012 effort After This captures the worship experience with a power and punch well above that of other live albums, gospel or otherwise. Recorded live in 2011 at the First Cathedral in Bloomfield, Connecticut, After This features Hairston's crisp and bright Youthful Praise choir, whose gifted soloists give up some time here, but to a well above worthy guest list that includes Tye Tribbett, John P. Kee, James Fortune, and others. Check the highlight title track, which offers strength to the sick and needy and was inspired by Hairston's own dealings with his mother's cancer diagnosis. ~ David Jeffries