Group Name: Liberty Quartet
Website: www.libertyquartet.com

Album Title: “There’s A Testimony”
Song Titles:
1. There’s A Testimony
2. Glorious Tomorrow
3. Freedom
4. I’m His
5. Mastered By The Master
6. Near To The Heart Of God
7. Take What We Have
8. Look What He’s Already Done
9. Let Someone Find Jesus Today
10. Helping Hand
11. Great Day

Liberty Quartet is a group based out of the western state of Idaho.  They maintain a full-time concert schedule, traveling all over the United States and Canada.  Current members of the group include Royce Mitchell (bass), Dan Gilbert (lead), Doran Ritchey (baritone/piano), and Keith Waggoner (tenor).

“There’s A Testimony” is one of the group’s newest albums.  Looking down the list of writers who contributed songs for this project, you see names such as Phil Cross and Rebecca Peck- well-known, quality songwriters.  Also, you see that three of the group members- Keith Waggoner, Royce Mitchell, and Doran Ritchey- contributed songs that they had written as well.

Now, let’s take a look at each of the songs on the album.

The album opens the title track.  “There’s A Testimony” is a medium-tempo song that I first heard sung by Canada’s Torchmen Quartet.  Bass Royce Mitchell takes the first verse solo, and he has a rich tone to his voice that is pleasant to listen to.  You will also notice right away that the group works hard to perfect their blend and their harmonies.  Immediately following is an up-tempo song called “Glorious Tomorrow”.  Tenor Keith Waggoner is featured here, and he has a clear, strong voice.  Song #3 is a medium-tempo ballad called “Freedom”.  At first it sounded similar to the Legacy Five song by the same name, but it’s not the same song.  However, this is a wonderful patriotic song that again showcases the tight blend of the group.

The fourth song slows the tempo down somewhat.  “I’m His” is a ballad written by group member Doran Ritchey that features tenor Keith Waggoner.  Song #5 is another up-tempo offering entitled “Mastered By The Master”.  You get a chance to briefly hear Dan Gilbert on a few one-phrase solos, and you can tell that his voice is strong enough to easily handle the lead part.  The tempo slows down again for the next song, “Near To The Heart Of God”.  The guys do some tight unison work on this song that is a joy to listen to, as is their harmony and blend.

Doran Ritchey wrote the seventh song, and up-tempo number entitled “Take What We Have”.  This song will easily become a favorite of anyone who hears it.  It’s straightforward, classic Southern Gospel to the core.  “Look What He’s Already Done”, the eighth song, is a slow-to-medium tempo song that has a softer sound to it.  It’s good to hear the group tackle a “finesse” song.  Song #9, “Let Someone Find Jesus Today”, is another Doran Ritchey song that the group would probably say sums up their ministry focus quite nicely.  The message of this song is simply wonderful.  Listeners will also notice that there are a lot of somewhat staccato notes throughout the entire song that give it a different feel than your average Southern Gospel song.

The tempo speeds up once again for Song #10.  Bass Royce Mitchell penned the slightly up-tempo “Helping Hand”.  I like songs with clear, strong messages, and this song fits that bill.  Again, the group does some unison work on the verses that is very nice.  The tempo stays the same as the album comes to a close.  Tenor Keith Waggoner wrote “Great Day”, and it is a good song with which to close the album.

I know that I didn’t offer any specific observations on the vocals of baritone Doran Ritchey during the course of this review.  However, don’t presume that to indicate my dislike or displeasure with them.  It simply means that it was difficult for me to distinguish between his voice and that of lead singer Dan Gilbert.  However, like every other member of the group, Doran has a smooth, strong voice and a good ear for pitch.  I honestly didn’t hear one pitch problem throughout the entire album.  More impressing to me, however, was the work that the group obviously puts in to perfect what they do.  Whenever they made any sort of vocal moves in a song, everyone moved at the same time.  They were “together” on their pronunciations, timing, etc.  I also like the fact that none of the guys try to sing out of their range.  They know what they can and can’t do, and they work with that.  The only thing that I did happen to notice was that, at times, the tenor’s vocals were just a bit too noticeable in the overall blend.  However, this is something minor that is easily corrected. 

I would like to thank the Liberty Quartet for giving me an opportunity to review this album.  I would wholeheartedly suggest that anyone who loves good, quality Southern Gospel music get this album.  Overall, I would give this album a rating of 9 ½ out of a possible 10 microphones!

Favorites: “Glorious Tomorrow”, “Mastered By The Master”, “Near To The Heart Of God”, and “Helping Hand”