Prime Cuts: Moonglow, It Had To Be You, Laughter In The Rain
Overall Grade: 4/5
With How Sweet It Is: Live In Concert, the Gaither Vocal Band offers a carefully curated Valentine's Day project that trades innovation for refinement. Recorded live at The Cabaret in Indianapolis, the album presents a polished evening of jazz standards, pop evergreens, and faith-rooted selections, all rendered with the ensemble's hallmark vocal blend and professional assurance.
The album's strongest moments emerge in its prime cuts, where the group's strengths are most naturally aligned with the material. "Moonglow" is delivered with warmth and restraint, allowing the song's melodic elegance to shine without embellishment. The performance evokes classic American popular music traditions, emphasizing tonal balance and harmonic clarity over interpretive novelty.
Similarly, "It Had To Be You" benefits from the ensemble's disciplined approach. The arrangement is unadventurous but assured, marked by precise phrasing and a relaxed confidence that suits the song's conversational charm. The live setting enhances the sense of intimacy, reinforcing the group's ability to connect with an audience through understated musicality.
Neil Sedaka's "Laughter In The Rain" stands out as one of the album's most fitting selections. Its gentle optimism aligns well with the group's vocal sensibilities, and the performance unfolds with ease and cohesion. While the interpretation remains faithful to the original, the live execution lends it a communal warmth that underscores the album's thematic focus on shared experience and affection.
Throughout the project, the Gaither Vocal Band demonstrates why it continues to be regarded as a benchmark for male harmony singing. The live band accompaniment is tasteful and restrained, supporting rather than overshadowing the vocals. Guest appearances by Mark Lowry, Ladye Love Smith, and Chris Blue add variety and texture, particularly on selections such as "Fly Me To The Moon" and "My Girl," without disrupting the album's overall cohesion.
Yet, despite its many strengths, How Sweet It Is: Live In Concert ultimately reveals a notable limitation. The album rarely ventures beyond faithful reproduction, offering little in the way of imaginative reinterpretation. Given the breadth of the repertoire and the ensemble's considerable experience, the absence of creative risk is noticeable. The performances are consistently well executed, but they seldom surprise.
This is not a project intended to challenge genre boundaries or redefine familiar material. Rather, it functions as a celebration of musical memory and shared sentiment. In that respect, it succeeds admirably. Like a thoughtfully prepared Valentine's gift, the album prioritizes warmth, familiarity, and sincerity over experimentation.
How Sweet It Is: Live In Concert is a refined and enjoyable release that highlights the Gaither Vocal Band's enduring vocal excellence. While it lacks imaginative ambition, its careful execution and melodic appeal make it a fitting seasonal offering and a reassuring affirmation of the group's continued relevance.
