"New Day" (2001) - Review by Tom Lennie:

All songs written by Doug Gilmour, Karen Workman, Megan Gilmour, Rhonda Gilmour, and Todd Berger.

Musicians:
Worship leader: Doug Gilmour
Guitars: Brian Troyer, Peter Workman
Bass: Sally Gagliardi
Drums: Aaron Jenkins
Vocals: Todd Berger, Doug Gilmour, Megan Gilmour, Rhonda Gilmour,
            Karen Workman
Keyboards: Doug Gilmour, Megan Gilmour, Karen Workman
Violins: Sayaka Nakayama, Soh-Hyun Park
Horns: Shawna Babcock, Peter Cozmyk, Sue West
Live Sound: Gerry Babcock

    The cover graphic invites the listener through the prison gates into a New Day, a place of beauty, peace and wondrous freedom. Such day began on the dawn of Jesus' resurrection, and it is the New Life offered by such event that the Doug Gilmour worship team celebrate on this live sophomore indie recording. Building on the strengths of Diamonds, New Day oozes a musical / spiritual maturity and unique artistic style that are entirely winsome.

    Initial tracks carry a triumphant beat, effusing a full, jazz-praise sound (vaguely comparable to music of Phil Driscoll) filled with rich tones from trumpet/trombone, violin, organ and essential backing vocals. Doug's own rootsy harmonica vibes are a further utter delight on these funk-tinged, self-composed tracks, while the lead guitar break on 'Seek Your Face' is just as compelling. And while such upbeat rhythm is again found on the Megan Gilmour composed/led 'You Satisfy Me' , mood settles to a warm, gentle flow on most other tracks, such as Karen Workman's charming 'The Fig Tree', and the slow-jazz intimacy of 'Within The Veil' and moody romance of the 9-min 'Morning Song', both of which find Doug's deep, earthy vocals to be somewhat reminiscent of the mature, laidback sound of Californian worship musician Terry Clark.

    A couple of sensitive yet quite differing spontaneous worship 'Selahs' (the latter lasting an atmospheric 9 minutes) show just how creative and sensitive this team truly are, while the touching album theme track is saved until last; Todd Berger's 'New Day' is an intense, slow-burning supplication, seeking God's glory to consume our lives, and reminiscent of a restrained Don Potter ballad (featuring Todd's equally deep lead vocals, along with acoustic guitar and strummed violin). All in all, there's not one track on this 11-song, 74-minute recording that does not give fine effect, with Peter Workman's mixing/production sense again doing the job. Great music, powerful lyrics - New Day is a striking success!

1. Do You Not Know
2. See How Good
3. When I Seek Your Face
4. Hear My Cry
5. Selah (Fragrance)
6. Fig Tree
7. You Satisfy
8. Within the Veil
9. Morning Song
10. Selah (Prepare the Way)
11. New Day

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"Diamonds" (1999) - Review by Tom Lennie:

    Recorded live at Church on the Rise (Westlake, Ohio) and Cornerstone Friend’s Church (Madison, Ohio), July 1999. All original material written by the Gilmour’s and Karen Workman who does keyboards and background vocals.

    I knew this album was going to sound unique when I read the (serious) warning label stuck to the cover; 'May cause distraction. Spirit may intensify this effect. Use care when driving or operating heavy machinery'. Hmm, interesting!

    Doug Gilmour and wife Rhonda have been active as worship leaders in Cleveland, Ohio for over 14 years, placing an emphasis on waiting on the Lord in extended, uninterrupted worship. This is indeed how Doug leads proceedings on this 73-minute expression of celebration and intimacy - a collection of original songs interspersed with spontaneous 'prophetic selahs', as musicians are led along in heart-felt worship.

    Beginning with a couple of punchy, triumphant songs of praise, the mood changes quite dramatically on 'God has ascended' and beyond, to slower, deeply sensitive offerings, often with delicate accompaniment on piano and violin. Not all are sing-along choruses, but all are deeply inspiring pieces - most moving. The title-track 'Diamonds', like 'Lost in You', was penned by Karen Workman, and is a gorgeously simple song of worship: so too is the infectious lilt of track nine, based on Psalm 99:5.

    Karen provides background vocals and keyboards too - her husband Peter being the album's able producer. The final tune is a carefree percussion-based celebration inspired by Psalm 150, and comes complete with excellent horn, string and harmonica sections, though with a rather simplistic melody.
  Overall "Diamonds" is an intriguing and inspiring album, well worth checking out.

1. Psalm 150 (intro)
2. God’s Army
3. You Set Me Free
4. God Has Ascended
5. Storm Selah
6. Diamonds
7. Rain Selah
8. Christmas Song
9. Psalm 99:5
10. Healing Balm Selah
11. He’s My Rock
12. Lost in You
13. Psalm 150

(right click-save as to download sample clips)