Make Us One

Description

Make Us One is an instrumental album by the American singer, songwriter, and trumpeter Phil Driscoll, released on his own Mighty Horn Records in 1987, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was produced by Phil Driscoll and Bill Maxwell for Mighty Horn Records.

Phil Driscoll has always had an undeniable gift for powerful music ministry – even if he sometimes sounded like Joe Cocker playing Maynard Ferguson’s trumpet through Don Ellis’s Echoplex! With ‘Make Us One’, Driscoll has developed a confident musical identity by incorporating a distinctive blend of traditional praise music with R&B and jazz leanings.

This is a great record for Phil Driscoll. Rather than imitate Joe Cocker imitating Ray Charles, he’s learned to emulate the soulfulness of Charles and other great R&B vocal stylists. The result: Driscoll finds his own voice, a peculiar, rich, raspy instrument that ranges from baritone bullfrog croaks to raging thunderclaps within the space of a single song. It’s just one aspect of ‘Make Us Ones’ depth and variety.

Much credit goes to co-producer Bill Maxwell and the other members of Koinonia for their sure backing and virtuosic playing. In turn, Koinonia’s tight comp work inspires Driscoll to pull off some of his best trumpet licks.

The songs range from fragile, hushed worship choruses to rocking, aggressive, jazzy shouts. Driscoll’s arrangement of the traditional hymn, «Holy, Holy, Holy» demonstrates his skill at creating dramatic effects with simple and familiar material. In his rockier moments, Driscoll even sounds a bit like Mylon LeFevre or Dana Key, as on «Trumpet in a Heavenly Band» (no, he’s not talking about Koinonia there). The track roars from start to finish. In fact, it borders on rock ‘n’ roll. Phil, if you keep this up, you will definitely not be invited to sample the gumbo at the next Louisiana clambake! [Mark Eischer, CCM, August 1987]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/make-us-one/1706334537)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Make Us One” – 3:24
A2. “I’ll Be Ridin’ With Him” – 4:28
A3. “I Can Feel Your Love” – 4:35
A4. “Wait On The Lord” – 5:20
A5. “Cool Rain” – 4:17

Side Two
B1. “Trumpet In A Heavenly Band” – 3:40
B2. “All Around The World” – 2:55
B3. “Standin’ In The Shadow” – 3:40
B4. “Holy, Holy, Holy” – 3:44
B5. “The Magnificat (Prelude Of Faith / Holy Is Thy Name)” – 7:21

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Benson Records.

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