Derric Johnson

Review: As directed by Derric Johnson, his Vocal Orchestra sings twenty-five hymns, from the classic ('Amazing Grace,' 'The Lord's Prayer'), the traditional ('Ezekiel Saw The Wheel,' 'Go Tell It On The Mountain,' 'Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho') to the lesser-known ('I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About To Happen' and 'Ivory Palaces'). Each inspirational rendering is beautifully and sensitively performed by this mixed ensemble. The vocal quality and tonal purity is ideal, and the group also knows when to dramatize a reading, as they do on 'Shadrach,' in a dazzling exhibition of showmanship. The arrangements are multi-textured and bold, but not pretentious or excessive. The group appears regularly as 'Voices Of Liberty' at Disney World, and their professionalism is apparent.

Songlist: Amazing Grace/ Grace Greater Than Our Sin, Beyond The Sunset/ Sunrise Tomorrow, Steal Away, Shadrach, He Never Sleeps, Give Me Jesus, He Never Said A Mumblin' Word, Over The Sunset And Mountains, Ezekiel Saw The Wheel, Love, Sweet Hour Of Prayer/ There's A Garden/ Tell It To Jesus, How Great Thou Art, I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About To Happen, Ivory Palaces, The Lord's Prayer, Go Tell It On The Mountain, Only Jesus Can Satisfy Your Soul, Whispering Hope, Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho, I Know A Name, May The Road Rise Up To Meet You

Review: Derric Johnson and his 'Voices of Liberty,' eight of whose best and most experienced members became ReGeneration, toured nationally for 12 years, performing 6,000 live performances for 12 million people. In a recording encore, one of the most beloved and respected choral ensembles of all time comes back to blow us away with 10 Contemporary Christian tunes and favorite hymns. 'Have You Met Jesus,' 'The Old Rugged Cross,' 'All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name,' 'In The Presence/Surely The Presence,' 'For All My Sin,' the traditional spiritual 'David and Goliath,' 'Moment by Moment,' 'O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus,' 'Ho, Every One That is Thirsty in Spirit' and 'Midnight Cry'-this is a powerful, inspirational collection of wonderful songs, with Derric Johnson's arrangements and direction, by his hand-picked mixed ensemble. What could be better?

Songlist: Have You Met Jesus?, The Old Rugged Cross, All Hail The Power of Jesus Name, In The Presence / Surely The Presence, For All My Sin, David and Goliath, Moment by Moment, O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus, Ho, Every One That is Thirsty in Spirit, Midnight Cry

Review: 1991 release by Derric Johnson, esteemed director of the Voices of Liberty. Many of the arrangements are also his, and can be recognized by their dramatic codas and lofty soprano range. There are many familiar carols, such as 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,' 'O Come All Ye Faithful' and 'Little Drummer Boy,' just to name a few - 26 tracks in all. With that kind of variety, there is something for everyone: 'Sweet Little Jesus Boy,' a spiritual; 'Calypso Noel,' with that island rhythm; 'Pat-A-Pan,' in the French classical vein. 'Gesu Bambino' is one of the prettiest songs, a distinctive melody, coupled with an easy waltz tempo.

Songlist: Do You Hear What I Hear?, A Starry Night, Calypso Noel, Sweet Little Jesus Boy, Pat-A-Pan, Sing Allelulia/ In Excelsis Deo, I Wonder As I Wander, Christmas, Gesu Bambino, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, The Little Bitty Baby/ Wonderful Counselor, It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, O Holy Night, Go Tell It On The Mountain, White Christmas, Fum Fum Fum, While Shepards Watched, The First Noel, O Come All Ye Faithful, What A Merry Little Christmas Tree, The Birthday Of A King, Winter Wonderland, Little Drummer Boy, French Chorale Of Praise, Away In A Manger, We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Review: Follow-up to previous release by the Regeneration troupe. As on Volume I and II, Derric Johnson's voice-orchestra performs sensational arrangements of carols such as 'Joy To The World,' 'Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town' and 'Deck The Halls.' Particularly lovely is 'Carol Of The Russian Children/The Sleigh,' popularized by the Singers Unlimited.

Songlist: Joy To The World, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Carol Of The Russian Children/ The Sleigh, Go Where I Send Thee, Silent Night, Let It Snow!, Jingle Bells, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Hanukkah, The Christmas Song/ Chestnuts Roasting, Rejoice With Exceeding Great Joy, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, Carol Of The Bells, Silver Bells, Christmas In The Air, Deck The Halls, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Some Children See Him

Review: Velvet: a rich fabric. The harmonies of Regeneration: sumptuous, angelic outpourings of rejoicing, of which velvet is a most fitting adjective. Carrying on in the mode established by the best-selling 'Christmas In Velvet' volumes one and two, the fourteen traditionals and hymns contained here (ten of which were released a few years ago in a now out-of-print recording entitled'Pure Silk'), are inspiring not only because of their thematic content of praise, but because of the arranging of Derric Johnson, the group's director. To study a Derric Johnson arrangement is to contemplate the canon of a master. Key to his style is his seamless blending of classical choral and jazz idioms that are fresh, yet easy to assimilate. What could be more uplifting than the gloriously ascending intervals of 'More Than Wonderful,' ending in an epic high note? The serene and resonant 'Holy Ground' is set against a backdrop of plush oohs and aahs. The countermelodic texture of 'Just As I Am' is engaging but never excessive. The men and women of Regeneration (some of whom moonlight as Walt Disney World's 'Voices of Liberty'), could not be more pristine in their performance. Their control, phrasing and interpretation is textbook perfect. All in all, 'Hymns in Velvet' is an exercise of pure enjoyment.

Songlist: Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Jesus, Lover of my Soul, Just a Little Talk With Jesus, Spirit of God, I Must Tell Jesus, A Mighty Fortress , I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked, O Love That Will Not Let Me Go, Just As I Am, It Is Well With My Soul, Go Down Moses, Holy Ground, Jesus Is His Name, More Than Wonderful

Review: Derric Johnson is the director of the 'Voices Of Liberty,' the ten-voice ensemble that performs at Walt Disney World. This collection, featuring the Voices themselves, is as unabashedly and straightforwardly patriotic as it is possible to be, with songs such as 'This Land Is Your Land,' 'America, The Beautiful' and 'Battle Hymn Of The Republic' on the set list. The CD's opener, 'Golden Dream,' is the musical equivalent of a twelve-gun salute, if for nothing other than its finale, which climbs up the scale chromatically to dizzying heights. The challenging arrangements and the virtuosity of the performances - excellent across the board - are a complement to the sometimes grave lyrical content, which emphasizes all-American values with unmitigated confidence. Whatever one's opinions on that score, musically 'A Cappella Americana' is great.

Songlist: Golden Dream, Shenandoah, Railroad Medley, We, The People / America The Beautiful, The Star Spangled Banner, Songs Of The South (medley), This Land Is Your Land, Battle Hymn Of The Republic, Oh Susanna!, Black Is The Color of my True Love's Hair, The Penny / My Country 'tis of Thee

Review: 'A Slice of A Cappella' is a patriotic classic, from 'Give Me Your Tired,' the timeless words from the Statue of Liberty, 'Yankee Doodle,' 'God Bless The USA,' and 'The Red, White and Blue' medley, to the 'Songs of the West' medley, 'Rockytop,' 'Kentucky Babe,' 'Back Home In Indiana' and 'Old Man River,' it's all-American great stuff! Derric Johnson's direction is once again flawless, and these 8 talented voices effortlessly nail every song. A celebration of our country and freedom - a real feel-good CD!

Songlist: Give Me Your Tired, God Bless The USA, Songs Of The West, Rockytop, Kentucky Babe, Back Home In Indiana, The Red, White And Blue, When I fall In Love, Yankee Doodle, OL' Man River, Old McDonald Had A Farm, A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes

Review: Quite probably the busiest performing a cappella group in the country The Voices of Liberty are also one of the longest running professional a cappella groups as they perform several sets each and every day at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The group follows in an even longing-running tradition of Regeneration, as both are almost the same as they were both directed by, and perform almost exclusively the arrangements of, the great Derric Johnson. This release follows the four highly successful and still very popular 'Christmas in Velvet' recordings and this is a most welcome addition to the series. Derric's arrangements are very distinctive and are seemingly very complex yet very simple all at the same time. One can listen to the songs on different levels either just relaxing and let the voices wash over you or listen intently to every nuance of the arrangement. The company of singers who make up the ensemble are also top-notch and include a barbershop international champion, some rocking contemporary singers and many professional voices that all blend marvelously. If you loved their previous recordings you simply must have this recording.

Songlist: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Sing We Now of Christmas, Christmas Time Is Here, Frosty the Snowman, Down The Stairway of Stars, Hallelujah Chorus, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Rise Up Shepherd and Follow, Still, Still, Still, Mary's Little Boy, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Let There Be Peace on Earth

Review: Widely considered to one of today's top a cappella arrangers Derric Johnson is also one of our favorites. This songbook is a collection of 14 classic American folk songs as for arranged and performed by Derric Johnson's Liberty Voices and which can be heard on their CDs 'A Cappella Americana' and 'A Slice of A Cappella'. To study a Derric Johnson arrangement is to contemplate the canon of a master. Key to his style is his seamless blending of classical choral and jazz idioms that are fresh, yet easy to assimilate. We highly recommend this songbook for most all choirs, ensembles and groups should have a least one Derric Johnson arrangement in their repertoire.

Songlist: America The Beautiful, Love's Old Sweet Song, My Country 'Tis Of Thee, Oh! Susanna, Shenandoah, Simple Gifts, Skip To My Lou, The Star Spangled Banner, Swing Low, Taps, The Red White And Blue, We The People, Yankee Doodle, You Are My Sunshine

Review: Quite probably the busiest performing a cappella group in the country The Voices of Liberty are also one of the longest running professional a cappella groups as they perform several sets each and every day at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The group follows in an even longing-running tradition of Regeneration, as both are almost the same as they were both directed by, and perform almost exclusively the arrangements of, the great Derric Johnson. The sheet music we've all been waiting for, finally some of Derric Johnson's finest Christmas arrangements have been printed for us to sing! Included are 3 Volumes of 4 songs each from the namesake recordings.

Songlist: A Cappella Christmas Vol. 1, Away in a Manger, Gesu Bambino, Go Tell It On the Mountain, O Holy Night, A Cappella Christmas Vol. 2, Deck the Halls, Go Where I Send Thee, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, Jingle Bells, A Cappella Christmas Vol. 3, Christmas In The Air, French Chorale of Praise, Pat-a-Pan, We Wish You A Merry Christmas