DVD Review: Live (LeFevre Quartet)
Rating: 4 (of 5)
Average Song Rating: 3.9 (of 5)
Producer: Gus Gaches.
Song List: Must I Go Empty Handed; I Love Him So; Cloud He’s Coming Back On; When I Get Carried Away; Gulty; I Bless Your Name; It Takes Faith; Glory Road; First Day in Heaven; Without Him; How Great Thou Art; Total Praise; In His Will; To Get to Jesus; Days of Elijah.
Available from: Artist.
* * *
Groups like Greater Vision, the Perrys, and Gold City have years of mega-hits to draw on to win over an audience and warm them to receiving their new material favorably. Newer groups like the Mike LeFevre Quartet, even though they have several albums under their belt, have to work with lesser-known songs and, when singing classics, songs introduced by other groups.
This video is the LeFevre Quartet’s first DVD. Even though only four or five songs on the project are original to the group, the program is a good mixture of classics, all-but-forgotten Southern Gospel songs, and Southern Gospel renditions of current praise songs that provides a solid introduction to the group.
The video quality is top-notch. The roving cameraman and the boom camera operator were both at the top of their game on the night of the taping, and the editing is also superb.
The LeFevre Quartet is remarkably agile at shifting stylistic gears seamlessly. Mike LeFevre’s voice is a solidly Southern Gospel baritone; David Staton’s lead vocals have a contemporary edge. A segment of Southern Gospel classics transitions into a segment of fully orchestrated praise songs so smoothy that one has to be following closely to even notice that the group has shifted gears.
The group starts the program establishing its Southern Gospel bona fides with two LeFevre songs, a Happy Goodmans classic, and Mike Lefevre’s signature song, “When I Get Carried Away” (after a witty comedic introduction by tenor Gus Gaches). After several newer songs with soundtracks, the group sings several Southern Gospel classics with a live band. The band—pianist Trey Ivey, drummer Jordan LeFevre (Mike’s son), and bass guitarist Gary Coursey (former Singing Americans bass guitarist who plays select MLQ dates), brought a boost of energy to the program.
The program closed with several original and praise songs, ending on a strong note with “Days of Elijah.”
