SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS:
CD REVIEW:
GOD IS LISTENING
TRIUMPHANT QUARTET
LABEL: STOWTOWN RECORDS
PRODUCER: WAYNE HAUN, KRIS CRUNK
RELEASE DATE: JUNE 7, 2024
GROUP MEMBERS: ERIC BENNETT (BASS), CLAYTON INMAN (BARITONE), DAVID SUTTON (TENOR), AND SEAN BARBER (LEAD)
SONG LIST:
- Unashamed (Jimmy Yeary, Wynn Varble, Tony Wood)
- God Is Listening (Kenna Turner West, Jason Cox, Jon Mohr)
- Deep Waters (Wayne Haun, Allison Wells)
- Death Couldn’t Keep Him Down (Kenna Turner West, Jason Cox, Daniel Doss)
- A Better Savior (Joel Lindsey, Sue C. Smith, Val Dacusl)
- Always (Scotty Inman)
- Big Ole Stone (Victory) (Daniel Doss, Tom Frye)
- The Way He Loves Me (Sue C. Smith, Lee Black)
- New Name Written Down In Glory (Charity Gayle, David Gentiles, Hannah Liliana Rivas, Micah Allen Cooke, Denita Marshay Turner, Andrew M. Ley, Hannah Devin Hodges)
- Friend Of Sinners (Joseph Habedank, Tony Wood)
THOUGHTS:
Triumphant Quartet is one of Southern Gospel Music’s most beloved quartets. The multi-award winning group continues to deliver the message of Jesus Christ in song in stellar fashion. For over twenty years, the group consisted of the same four vocalists: David Sutton, Clayton Inman, Scotty Inman, and Eric Bennett. Last year, baritone vocalist Scotty Inman left the group to pursue solo ministry. Sean Barber, who sang lead for Justified Quartet in Michigan, joined the quartet in September of 2023 as the lead singer. Already having sung baritone occasionally (sharing the part with Scotty), Clayton Inman officially shifted to the position when Barber joined.
Sean Barber brings a powerful and dynamic voice to this stellar quartet. I had the pleasure to see them live at the Great Western Fan Festival and was absolutely blown away by Sean’s voice and the group’s blend.
The group’s brand new recording God Is Listening is sure to be a blessing to all who listen. Featuring ten songs of hope and inspiration, this recording is quintessential Triumphant.
The incredible album opens with a powerful mid-tempo anthem called “Unashamed.” Sean Barber takes the lead on this song which proclaims: I am unashamed to tell people of Jesus Christ! I am a Christian! I will sing His Praise and shout His Name unashamed! The title track and first single “God Is Listening” is a beautiful ballad featuring tenor David Sutton.This incredibly moving song reminds us that God hears our prayers. Keep on praying.There is hope! Trust the answer is going to come. He keeps His Word. He is faithful! This is sure to be hit for the group. I can easily see this becoming David Sutton’s signature song. Clayton Inman takes the lead on the mid-tempo song “Deep Waters” which reminds us that God is with us through our trials. Through storms and struggles, He makes a way! When you go through deep waters, you never go alone! Sean Barber is featured again on the powerful anthem “Death Couldn’t Keep Him Down.” This incredible song tells of Christ’s Resurrection. The grave lost the victory! He is alive!! Death could not keep Him down! David Sutton takes the lead again on “A Better Savior.” This tender ballad reminds us that though we fall short of His Glory, Jesus forgives you. Grace is greater than all of your sins. Jesus is a better Savior than you will ever be a sinner. “Always”, featuring Clayton Inman, is another beautiful ballad that reminds us that Jesus always sees us through. We can always count on Him. “Big Ole Stone (Victory)”, featuring Sean Barber, is a worshipful mid-tempo tune that encourages believers to lift your hands in victory. Jesus has set us free! The wicked curse is overcome! David Sutton takes the lead again on the groovy “The Way He Loves Me.” This fun song simply says: The thing about Jesus that I love the most is the way He Loves me. Sean Barber is featured again on the mid-tempo worship tune “New Name Written Down In Glory.” This song is a powerful declaration of a new identity in Jesus Christ. I am who I am because the Great I AM tells me who I am. Eric Bennett’s warm bass is featured on the beautiful ballad “Friend of Sinners.” This moving song reminds us that there is hope in Christ for everyone. Jesus, if you’re a friend of sinners, then there is hope for me.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
TRIUMPHANT QUARTET DELIVERS ANOTHER INCREDIBLE PROJECT. THIS WAS ONE OF MY MOST ANTICIPATED RECORDS OF THE YEAR AND I MUST SAY IT EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS. I WILL ADMIT THAT AFTER MY FIRST LISTEN, I WAS A BIT DISAPPOINTED IN THE LACK OF UPTEMPO SONGS. HOWEVER, WITH EACH SUBSEQUENT LISTEN, THAT FEELING DISAPPEARED. AT GWFF, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING AND INTERVIEWING THESE INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY GREAT MEN OF GOD. IN THAT INTERVIEW, DAVID SUTTON TALKED ABOUT HOW “GOD IS LISTENING” IS A SONG THAT HE NEEDED TO HEAR PERSONALLY. NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE IN OUR FAITH JOURNEY, WE CAN SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE GOD DOES NOT HEAR OUR PRAYERS. THIS SONG REMINDS US THAT HE IS ALWAYS THERE AND HEARS US EVERY TIME WE PRAY. THIS PROJECT IS SURE TO BE A BLESSING TO ALL. EACH SONG ENCOURAGES LISTENERS TO TRUST IN CHRIST WHO IS FAITHFUL AND BRINGS US THROUGH. SEAN BARBER IS SUCH A FANTASTIC ADDITION TO THIS GROUP. HIS LOVE FOR GOD AND PEOPLE IS IMMEDIATELY EVIDENT.
HIGHLIGHTS: “GOD IS LISTENING,” “THE WAY HE LOVES ME,” “NEW NAME WRITTEN DOWN IN GLORY,” AND “BIG OLE STONE (VICTORY).”
5 OUT 5 STARS!!
GO OUT AND GET THIS CD ASAP!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.triumphantquartet.com
A NOTE FROM JUSTIN GILMORE:
THESE SONGS HAVE BEEN BLESSING TO ME IN MY LIFE PERSONALLY AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING AT MY WORK OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS OR SO. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES THAT I’VE COME HOME FROM WORK WITH A NEARLY BROKEN SPIRIT. I CRY TO GOD ASKING WHY. SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE HE IS NOT LISTENING. HOWEVER, I AM HERE TO TELL YOU HE HEARS EVERY WORD. GOD IS OPENING DOORS FOR ME THROUGH THIS SITE. I NEVER THOUGHT IN MY A MILLION YEARS THAT I’D BE INVITED TO COVER A GOSPEL MUSIC EVENT AND GOD BLESSED ME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. I GOT TO BE INTERVIEWED BY PROMOTER PAUL PITTS AND WILL SOON BE ON ANDREW BRUNET’S PODCAST. I FEEL LIKE GOD IS LEADING ME TO EMBRACE THIS SITE AND THE SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC FIELD EVEN MORE. I MAY NOT BE THE BEST INTERVIEWER OR REVIEWER, BUT IT IS NOT ABOUT ME. I ONLY WISH TO SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST AND MY LOVE OF THIS MUSIC TO EVERYONE. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
-JUSTIN GILMORE
Southern Gospel Spotlight 
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