“When you add to it truth, absolute truth, it takes it (music) to a whole another level.” – Michael Booth

For over four decades, producer and arranger Lari Goss has worked with over 100 of Gospel Music’s finest artists, played on countless recordings and arranged some of the most heavenly sounds you’ll hear on this earth.  If anyone understands the concept of matching truth with the black dots on a musical staff called notes – this man more than qualifies.  With just a piano, a pen and some paper, his life work has composed some of the most beautiful arrangements any instrument can boast of.  The orchestration behind songs like Jerusalem, Champion of Love, Statement of Faith, the #1 song of 2012, I Want To Know and many more, are just a few examples of the gift Mr. Goss possesses.  Indeed, it is rare to find one man who can display such repeated success decade after decade, but Lari Goss has proven to be a well that is far from running dry, and with a humble heart, he gives all the glory and honor to Jesus Christ.  Without question, Lari Goss is the man behind the music.  As Clark Beasley articulated well, “…and Gospel Music will never be the same.”

As I sat down on my couch to watch this DVD for the first time, I was reminded of July 9th, the day my friend from the Steve Hurst School of Music parked her car in the grass and we walked into TBN studios in Nashville, Tennessee for the night that would be recorded and broadcasted live on television as The Man Behind The Music.  Artists like Greater Vision, the Hoppers, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, Babbie Mason, the Booth Brothers, Legacy Five, the Mark Trammell Quartet and many more gathered to pay tribute to their friend and producer, Lari Goss.  Though rain threatened to spill from the grey clouds hanging above Nashville, it was an exciting night.  We sat in the balcony as a part of a group who came with the director of the Veranda at College Heights Baptist, Mary Anne Oglesby.  All night the sensations of a live orchestral, the ever moving camera jib and the giddy excitement swirling around the building brought to life in me a whole new meaning of Gospel Music.  It’s one thing to review a DVD based on quality, song selection, length or the ability to move the soul sitting on a couch…but it’s a whole new story to write a review based on experience.

Location:  Trinity Broadcasting Network – Nashville, Tennessee

A snapshot of artists and songs…

Highlights:  As one who had the opportunity to see this event live, I was very interested in which parts “stayed” and which ones were “cut out.”  Some were obvious, for instance, when host Gerald Wolfe stood in the center of the stage and humbly admitted, “I don’t remember what I’m suppose to do next.”  Others, I sorely missed.  There was one special moment when the Hoppers were on stage and Julie Goss (Lari’s daughter) brought out the ORIGINAL SCORE the song Jerusalem was composed on.  That was one clip I would liked to have seen included.  A more humorous instance, was when the Martins were getting ready to sing one of their acapella arrangements…suddenly, Lari played a bunch of octaves on the piano.  Gerald exclaimed, “Acapella means you don’t play!”  LOL  On the other hand, there are plenty of moments on the DVD that will always be remembered!  When Greater Vision sang Faces, the chorus filled the screen with pictures of Lari and many of the artists he has worked with down through the years.  Recent photos from the studio, pictures from when the Cathedrals recorded, portraits with Lari in the artists homes…really give the song a special meaning.  At the end, with all the artists on stage after singing Statement of Faith, Lari spoke to the audience and thanked them for supporting the groups represented.  His love for the Lord will touch your heart.  It was a special time, one that will make the DVD worth the purchase.

Behind the Scenes:  Yes!  There is footage from backstage!  You’ll get to see the artists individually thank Lari for the influence he has had on their lives and how much he means to them.  There were also two songs that are “bonus tracks” – they were taken out of the concert, but you can still view them elsewhere on the DVD.  The songs were Midnight Cry and I AM Is Enough.

Conclusion:  Perfect!  The live concert was perfect and the DVD is perfect!  I do hope you’ll add it to your collection if you haven’t already done so.  (Click HERE to order!)  For “lengths sake” I didn’t list all the songs and artists that appear on the DVD in a “Track List” – hope that’s okay!  On the other hand, if you’d like to read about everything that happened during this taping, you can read my concert review HERE.  In closing, I’d like to leave you with this quote from Gerald Wolfe, “Lari wants you to know, we all want you to know, that this is what we believe…”

I believe there is one true God – and Jesus Christ is His Holy Son; that He is the Living Word, and that by Him and through Him all things were made.I believe He was conceived by the Holy Spirit – and born of the virgin Mary, He lived a sinless life; healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and brought the dead back to life.I believe in the cross – that Jesus, God’s sacrificial Lamb, shedding His blood was crucified as an atonement for the sins of all the world; and whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.I believe in the resurrection – that on the third day He rose from the tomb, conquering death, hell and the grave; and today He sits at the right hand of the Father and that because He lives, we shall live also.  I believe in the church – a harbor for souls where God is glorified, saints are edified, grace is multiplied and mercy is magnified.I believe in the Holy Spirit – who dwells within all who are saved by grace through faith; He is our comforter our friend and our guide.  I believe that one day Jesus will come again to claim His own and prove once and for all that He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!