Alabaster Box

Description

Alabaster Box is the a studio album by the American gospel singer and songwriter CeCe Winans of BeBe and CeCe Winans fame, released on her own label Wellspring Gospel in 1999, manufactured and marketed by Sparrow Records and distributed by Chordant Distribution Group.

In this follow-up to her Grammy-winning 1996 album Alone in His Presence (Sparrow), CeCe Winans again creates a powerful praise & worship experience in Alabaster Box. Produced by Fred Hammond and Chris Harris, with cameo production by Cedric and Victor Caldwell, Alabaster Box opens up on themes of humility and surrender juxtaposed with joyous praise and exaltation. From the opening strains of «Fill My Cup», the first solo Winans sang in church when she was a young girl, to the quiet communion of «Blessed, Broken & Given» and at all points in between, this box is “full up” with great stuff.

Winans’ fourth solo project since her last release with brother BeBe (1994’s Relationships), Alabaster Box has a lot to offer in the support department. In addition to the aforementioned producers, the formidable Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir adds a smooth, soulful texture to Randy Phillips’ (of Phillips, Craig & Dean) «Comforter». The lush orchestration of the Nashville Symphony enhances the title cut, giving the already out-of-this-world lyric an ornamental staircase above which to soar. And it’s unlikely that anyone can steal the show from Winans on a song, but on «One and the Same» the incomparable Take 6 comes as close as may be possible.

Although there are a few get-up-and-move cuts, the mostly moderate to slower songs are, simply put, wonderful. «Comforter» and «King of Kings» praise the names of God, the latter packing an energy and life all its own. «He’s Not on His Knees Yet», a prayer for mercy for a friend in need of surrender, is beautifully simple, yet profound. «One and the Same», which speaks of the incomprehensible duality of Jesus, “the mystery of His holiness, the wonder of His humanness,” and «Alabaster Box», a song of brokenness and praise, are ultimately the highlights of the album and worth a long play on repeat.

And as if that isn’t enough, there is Winans herself, an artist whose vocal ability rarely ceases to amaze. Soulfully versatile and vulnerably real, she opens up wide and sings as if her life depends on what comes out. To listen, especially to Alabaster Box, is to know that it is true. [Melissa Riddle, CCM, November 1999]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/alabaster-box/716133701)

CD tracklist:

01. Fill My Cup – 0:51
02. Kings Of Kings (He’s A Wonder) – 4:25
03. It Wasn’t Easy – 4:49
04. Alabaster Box – 5:33
05. Comforter – 4:41
06. Love Of My Heart – 5:17
07. Without Love – 3:54
08. He’s Not On His Knees Yet – 3:11
09. One And The Same (feat. Take 6) – 4:19
10. Higher Place Of Praise – 4:52
11. Blessed, Broken & Given – 4:41
12. King Of Kings – Reprise – 0:47

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Sparrow Records.

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