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Kyle Bynoe & Praise “Praise” CD Review
Reviewed by LaTonya Taylor
Sounds like … praise and worship with a smooth R&B sensibility.
At a glance … though not especially original, Praise is a good introduction to the praise-and-worship genre—and a good choice for churches interested in introducing it to their congregations.
After several years in the mainstream music industry, Kyle Bynoe, the worship leader at Harvest House Christian Center in Akron, Ohio, assembled Praise from a group of Cleveland-area vocalists. Praise, the group's debut album, features a series of mostly praise-and-worship songs with a smooth, R&B-influenced sensibility, although some songs seem more suited to a choir than a praise team.
Highlights of the album include the sensitive "Touch," the easy grooving "I Will," "Let Us Come" and the gentle "Times of Refreshing."
Originality is not the strength of Praise. Those familiar with the praise-and-worship genre will recognize several recurring elements: the Latin-flavored chorus, the island-flavored chorus, the chorus with Hebrew phrases, and occasional combinations of these.
That's not to say that this album is without strengths.
In fact, it's an excellent choice for music ministers at churches who've been slow to adopt praise-and-worship music, or at more traditional churches who find this relatively new genre a bit threatening. A few reasons: The lyrics are easy to follow and learn, an important factor for audiences used to singing congregational hymns or in churches where singing has generally been limited to the choir. The songs repeat the choruses frequently before vamping into a new section, giving the congregation time to learn these potential favorites. Harmony is easy to hear, and instrumentation is competent, uncluttered and generally subtle, which makes the songs easy to play. Occasional leads know how to direct the song without being intrusive.
Track Listing: 1. King of Glory, 2. We Bless You Lord Always, 3. Magnify the Lord, 4. We Sing, 5. Awesome God, 6. Touch, 7. I Will, 8. Shabak, 9. Time of Refreshing, 10. So Good, 11. Worship You, 12. Let Us Come, 13. Praise - ChristianityToday.com
Kyle Bynoe
2004-03-19
By Christopher Heron
The recent wave of Praise & Worship recordings in Gospel music is more than a pendulum swing in music trends. It is the next phase in the worship experience for many believers. Churches across the country are undergoing a spiritual renaissance with the integration of the Praise & Worship team.
Believers are finding new inspiration and faith through the recordings of such standouts as CeCe Winans, Judith Christie-McAllister and Byron Cage. And inspirational music has found new impetus and sales in its latest category.
Among the new voices preparing the hearts of men and women for worship is music minister and servant of God, Kyle Bynoe. His enthusiasm for worship is as palpable as his songwriting and musical talent. In his latest recording – Praise (Waymaker), Minister Bynoe expresses a deep and unquestionable love for God that’s born out of his experience that propelled him from the cut-throat business of the R&B world in the Big Apple into his latest role and responsibility as Music Minister in Akron, Ohio.
With the loving support of his wife, Tiffany – a former R&B recording artist – Kyle has made a successful transition from R&B hitmaker to soulsaver…from P. Diddy collaborator to J.C. discipleship.
GospelCity caught up with Brother Bynoe whose passion for praise and worship in music and life is literally leading lives to the alter.
GospelCity.com: Kyle, you’re a new artist to most people. But really, you’ve been in the music industry for many years. Let’s talk about your journey from the secular world into Gospel music and your new CD - Praise. With this being your first gospel project; tell us how you joined Waymaker/Navarre Records, finally releasing your music ministry to the world?
Kyle Bynoe: I can just tell you this; it started before the foundation of the earth. God ordained us before that time, even before we knew we were going to do this. I moved to Akron, Ohio from New York City and joined the church where my wife came from, The Harvest House Christian Center. I began to discover purpose; I began to discover what God would have me do. The discovery came with pain, growing pain. Growing pain was just going through this walk of mine…from sin and sorrow into a righteous way, out of that was birthed a ministry. That's when I was called to be a praise and worship leader. I always wanted to do it; the Lord set me up with the right people. Through a connection, I met Eric Jenkins at Waymaker Records. He and I discussed doing a praise and worship album and from that point it is history.
GC: Now this journey that you speak of that involved some painful experiences. Can you tell us about that testimony?
KB : The painful experiences come from growing pains. Number one, I was in secular music and suddenly I heard the call from God. When God calls you, you can be at the highest point of your life in success, and then you have to drop it all. You know what I’m sayin’; you just have to like say, OK. He taught me; I didn’t drop it all without a fight. I was rebellious. But how many know that you can’t beat God. So we end up hustlin’, nevertheless it became a purpose for me to do gospel music. The fight was moving out of New York City to Akron, Ohio. A place to me that seemed like the desert, but we know God deals with you in quiet places. So I was dealt with, you know what I’m sayin’?
GC: Clearly you did have a taste of, or certainly quite a feast on, success collaborating with Will Downing on his Grammy-nominated song, working in the studio with P. Diddy and also your wife Tiffany’s who was signed with Elektra as a recording artist. To move from that environment into gospel music could not have been easy.
KB: No, it wasn’t easy but one of the things that made the change easy was that it was gospel. We always grew up with gospel; the roots of my music have always been gospel, I’ve always lived gospel. I always loved great songs, inspiring songs; the change was walking by faith and not by sight. The change was from what you do by your hand and then moving into what God says to do. The change is that we all lose; that’s the struggle we deal with because God said, “Without faith you cannot please him." So, in other words, we couldn’t look on our situation, based on how it looks. We had to trust Him. He said, trust in me, lean not to your own understanding. That’s where the change, the transition came from. Coming from a fast-paced city (New York) and almost putting on the brakes; that was a major change for me.
GC: And now, you dedicate your life to full-time music ministry, you’re a music minister. How has it prepared you for your latest recording and your newfound love to minister by recording?
KB: Praise God, I tell you what it did
prepare me for. Number one, I became an intercessor. I was up at five o’clock every morning praying, interceding on behalf of others. In that, you birth things; you don’t necessarily go into - Gospelcity.com
Discography
The Kyle Bynoe Project, 2008 (TBA)
Kyle Bynoe & Praise, 2005
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Bio
Simply put, Kyle Bynoe is a breath of fresh air to the gospel music industry. Gifted as a producer, songwriter and arranger, Bynoe walked a rocky road before finding his musical and spiritual destiny. Few would have imagined that the Ossining, New York native would have become one of the music industrys brightest rising stars with a list of credentials that includes writing for such mainstream artists as Will Downing, Howard Hewett and Mary J. Blige, along with three 2008 GMA Dove Award nominations including Traditional Gospel Album of the Year. This minister of the gospel with his group Praise already turned the music community upside down with a 2005 self-titled debut. But now this amazing and sold-out man of God returns with a brand spanking new solo effort called The Kyle Bynoe Project.
Growing up in New York, Bynoe was exposed to a variety of cultural and musical influences. All of them are reflected on Kyles new project. Smatterings of pop, urban, Latin, R&B, hip hop, CCM and gospel are part of this CDs musical landscape. One reason the artist includes a palette of sounds and textures is because his goal is to reach those outside of the church instead of just singing to the choir.
I just dont want to reach the church, but I want to reach the nations, says the singer. Although this project is a praise and worship project, I want tap into those who dont normally listen to praise and worship. For me its about reaching the lost.
But hes not just concerned with the human aspect. Im trying to project songs that tap into the heavenlies. With this CD, in particular, Ive endeavored to use the word of God in these songs. My true goal is to touch the heart of the harvest, but most importantly, touch His heart first, says Bynoe.
His passion for reaching the heart of God is clearly apparent on the CDs lead single, Favor. The song came to Bynoe prophetically while listening to one of his pastors sermons. An up-tempo track, the song speaks about Gods unexplainable kindness. With lyrics like, Im walking in favor, Gods given me; its so divine, right on time, destiny; Everywhere I go, blessings are falling down on me, listeners cant help but feel the positive vibes from the urban grooves flowing from this track. As a matter of fact, the track is so smooth, it gets two funky renditions in addition to the original: the club remix and the old school version. The artist plans to hit gospel and mainstream (including urban A/C) radio with the diverse sounds of the single.
Throughout the CDs twelve tracks produced by Bynoe, Vencott R. Palmer and Kevin Deane, Bynoe keeps the Lord as the focus of this musical collage and uses the CD as a platform to minister. Another powerful cut is the lyrically-driven This Is The Day. Kyle understands the power of music and scripture. When David wrote something, he then sung it. It was then that it became one with his spirit, explains Bynoe. Songs and music are so important. If its the wrong word, that spirit can taint you. We have to make sure that we have positive confessions.
And his new CD is filled with nothing but positive confessions and an undying hope. It was that same hope that steered Kyle in the right direction when other influences would have chosen a different path for him. Basically, Kyle grew up in a single-parent home raised by his mother. His relationship with his stepfather was touch-and-go, according to Kyle, which most likely contributed to his wild and rebellious side. Fortunately, he had three strong uncles who looked out for him helping him not to stray too far. But most importantly, these father figures poured into Kyle the gift of music.
Under the guidance of his Uncle Lee, he purchased his own keyboard and taught himself how to play. Later on, he met Chip Taylor, writer of two 60s megahits, who took Kyle under his wing. Working with Chip at his studio gave Kyle his first taste of the music industry and eventually, he was signed to an 8-year songwriting contract with EMI Music. Later forming Jon Doe Muzic Group, Kyle has been privileged to write hits for such mainstream and gospel artists as Mary J. Blige, Will Downing, Tina Turner, Christopher Williams, EnVogue, Angie Stone, Howard Hewett, The Winans, and Mighty Clouds of Joy.
Although Bynoe saw much success in the music industry, eventually he suffered burnout from the rigors of the business and walked away but thankfully it wasnt for good. After restoring a broken relationship with the Lord and becoming active at his church along with his wife, former mainstream singer Tiffany known as Tene Williams Kyle started writing again penning tunes to be sung in church prayer meetings.
That was the start of Bynoes renewed musical inspiration. Shortly after, he was led to form Kyle Bynoe & New City, an urban youth ensemble. After a conversation with Raina Bundy of Waymaker Records, the group eventually morphed into
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