Prime Cuts: Because He Lives; I Will Serve Thee; I've Just Seen Jesus
Overall Grade: 5/5
After decades of refining one of gospel music's most instantly recognizable a cappella sounds, The Martins return with This Is The Time I Must Sing, a beautifully reverent DVD & CD set that feels less like a concert recording and more like an invitation to worship. There is a quiet confidence to this project-an assurance born not of novelty, but of faithfulness practiced over time. From the opening moments, it is clear that this is music shaped by prayer, patience, and a deep respect for the sacred weight of these songs.
Long celebrated for their pristine harmonies and joyful restraint, siblings Joyce, Jonathan, and Judy Martins center this project on the timeless songwriting of Bill Gaither and Gloria Gaither. Stripped of instrumentation and excess, these songs are re-imagined through pure vocal blend, allowing melody, lyric, and testimony to carry the full emotional and theological load. The result is a reminder of why a cappella-when done with this level of care and conviction-remains one of the most powerful vehicles for worship: nothing distracts from the message, and nothing competes with the truth being sung.
The performances are technically flawless but never sterile. Each arrangement breathes, shaped by subtle dynamics, sensitive phrasing, and an unmistakable sense of joy that feels communal rather than performative. The Martins sing with the listener, not at them. The DVD's intimate setting, paired with a warm on-screen visit with Bill Gaither himself, reinforces the project's spirit of gratitude and testimony. This is worship offered without spectacle-rooted in story, memory, and shared faith.
What makes This Is The Time I Must Sing especially compelling is its emotional pacing. Rather than racing through beloved standards, The Martins allow the songs to linger, trusting the material and the moment. Classics such as "There's Something About That Name" and "Gentle Shepherd" unfold with pastoral calm, inviting reflection and stillness. In contrast, moments like "Get All Excited" and "I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About To Happen" shimmer with restrained exuberance, joy expressed not through volume or speed, but through unity and lift. The guest vocal from Bill Gaither on "The Diff'rence Is In Me" adds a layer of generational richness, bridging legacy and present with warmth and authenticity.
This is not nostalgia for nostalgia's sake. It is worship rooted in memory, sung with conviction for the present moment. The Martins' harmonies feel lived-in, confident, and deeply sincere-voices shaped by years of singing truth together. This Is The Time I Must Sing ultimately reminds listeners that sacred music does not need reinvention so much as faithful delivery, and that when voices are offered with humility and joy, worship becomes both timeless and urgently now.
