Israel Houghton and New Breed Release Album

Following four back-to-back Billboard Top 200-selling, GRAMMY Award-winning albums, Israel Houghton returns with New Breed for their first live recording in five years, Jesus At The Center, releasing today amidst wide acclaim on Integrity Music / RGM-New Breed. Recorded live over four days in front of more than 29,000 worshippers at Houston’s Lakewood Church, the Jesus At The Center double-CD, 18 song album with three additional studio singles features Israel & New Breed returning to their roots, delivering new anthems for the modern day church.

As broadcast media continue to feature Israel & New Breed, and with covers or features in Associated Press, Charisma, Gospel Today, CCM, Worship Leader, All About Worship and more, the music critics are similarly offering their applause:

“Israel & New Breed...led by singer Israel Houghton, provide many superb praise and worship songs on their new album, Jesus at the Center. Houghton co-wrote the majority of songs on the double-disc album, offering solid, upbeat gospel tunes that are fused with jazz and rock melodies. The 21 tracks...flow easily as the group delivers a series of powerful messages about faith and empowerment.” – Associated Press

“Performance meets passion and artistry in Christ-centered worship expression (and experience) on Israel and New Breed's Jesus At The Center. Part old fashioned tent revival, part emotionally-packed cinematic soundtrack, part Sunday morning service, a helping of Top 40 radio and 100 percent engaging, this two CD set/21 track download...fuse an array of styles, giving us a multicultural, polyrhythmic, choral feast of pop-shaded, rock-informed worship that combines and fuses a universe of musical possibility.” – Worship Leader

“Like efforts past, [Jesus At The Center] consists of two main movements. The first one is a praise-fest featuring a string of high-octane numbers, running the gamut from corporate choral praise (“Jesus the Same,” “More Than Enough”) and contemporary gospel (“No Turning Back”) to Latin electro-pop (the Pitbull-esque “Te Amo”), and even a gospel-ska hybrid (“Rez Power”)... the second movement, a stretch of worshipful, impassioned slow-burners that segue right into one another.” – AllMusic.com

“A vision that has been stirring for 12 years and is finally coming to fruition in a worldwide release featuring soulful gospel, crossed with contemporary worship, Latino zest and shaken up with a rockin’ funk.” – CCM

“With this album, Israel Houghton delivers another must-have live worship project...Jesus at the Center is fresh, relevant and masterful.” – watchgmctv.com

In addition to the Jesus At The Center two-disc album, a companion DVD recorded live in high-definition featuring all 18 songs along with behind the scenes footage, story behind the song vignettes and other bonus material, is available at retail now. An exclusive iTunes® LP also releases and includes not only the new music, but also video Work Tapes, a Photo Montage, chord charts and the “Jesus At The Center” video tutorial. 

Co-writing all the songs, except the Bob Dylan cover, “To Make You Feel My Love,” and “You Have Me,” by Michael and Lisa Gungor, Israel says, “The overarching story of the album is that sometimes we can be so ‘churched’ that we can lose sight of the ‘who, what, why’ of worship. This project simply places Jesus where he is supposed to be. We intentionally removed the metaphors and simply focused on his name.”

In addition to Jason Nelson and James Fortune, guest vocalists on Jesus At The Center include Aaron W. Lindsey, Michael Gungor, T-Bone, Bishop Michael Pitts, Jeremiah Woods, Daniel Johnson, Charlin Moore, Adam Ranney, Tina Baker, Onaje Jefferson, Krystle Harper and Israel’s daughter, Mariah Houghton.