Sandi Patty
“Falling Forward”
INO Records
10 tracks @ 47:28
Grade = B+

            A member of the Gospel Music Hall and Fame and recipient of 39 Dove Awards, Sandi Patty’s latest, according to her PR material, finds her exploring the theme of “the journey after the fall, the joys and graces of life on the other side of failure and forgiveness.”

            Patty says, “For me, that’s such a metaphor for life, that act of falling forward into the our Father’s arms, not backwards and alone.

            “Part of the journey is learning that it’s not how fast we get somewhere, as long as we’re moving in the right direction.  We’re all so much more alike than we think,” she says.  “We put all this pressure on ourselves to be perfect. . . .  Then we fall-sometimes big and sometimes small-and we think all is lost.  But as we dare to be a little more real with each other, we can begin to understand that there’s beauty after the fall.”

            I want to see “The Sweeter Medley” performed live.  It includes “Blessed Be Your Name,” made famous by Tree63.  Sandi’s version is high energy and a real roof-raiser.  “Step Into the Joy,” with its horn section, has a modern big-Gospel choir feel and Sandi puts her awe-inspiring vocal range on display.

            I also liked Sandi’s version of “Grace Flows Down.”  This is one of my favorite songs from Watermark’s “All Things New” CD.

Those who enjoy the music of Twila Paris, Steve Green and the later recordings of gospel legend Mahalia Jackson would enjoy this record.  I can’t say I’m overly familiar with her discography but sometime I would love to hear Sandi perform with minimal instrumentation.  For example, “Made Me Glad” goes a little over-the-top with an arena rock guitar while the title track, I think, would sound gorgeous with just a piano and not the full-blown strings.

- Rob S.

www.sandipatty.com