Reviewed by Tony Cummings

"I need somebody to go crazy in the room!" screeches Tasha Cobbs with such frenzied abandon that one can have little doubt that many caught up in the white hot emotion of the church in Greenville, South Carolina where this album was recorded did indeed go crazy. Recordings of such abandonment to the Holy Spirit can bemuse and even aggravate believers whose theology or church practice leaves little room for experiencing the Holy Spirit or at least expressing such an encounter with uncontrolled excitement. But the fact that 'One Place Live' is at number one on Billboard's Gospel Charts clearly demonstrates there are tens of thousands of African American Pentecostalists prepared to be carried along by the screamed sermonette "Jesus Did It", pray with the elegantly soulful "Fill Me Up" and join with Tasha as she assures the congregation that she is going to "Put A Praise On It". The Atlanta, Georgia-born singer and songwriter possesses an astonishing vocal armoury able to sing in a rich and expressive contralto on declarations of simple Gospel truth like "Jesus Saves" but also improvise screamed reminders of forthcoming signs and wonders and personal declarations ("I's here because I love to be in your presence"). Tasha emerged from obscurity in 2010 and after one independent release and one studio project for Motown Gospel (which also made number one Stateside) she has clearly struck a chord with her Holy Spirit boldness. Tasha said recently in an interview that "we've got to step up to our game because our nation really needs God right now." And that need is just what this passionate worshipper is endeavouring to express.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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