Sienna - 'Steps'

Sienna's debut, Steps, shows her strong vocal chops off well. Contemporary pop, flavored by interesting shades of R & B, jazz and gospel, with a well-focused message. If you like pop, you'll thoroughly enjoy this CD.

Sienna has been open about her initial resistance to the youth group that first introduced her to Christian music. Let's just say her turnaround is complete, and she's moved forward with a vengeance. "Steps" delivers its theme, the perfection of God in his sovereignty, in a well-crafted and meticulously produced CD. From the first track, the very danceable "My Steps are Ordered", Sienna's soulful soprano lays it out with an irrefutable enthusiasm, singing of her "destiny fulfilled" in the Lord. "All Things" is my favorite, a strong tune that pulsates with a rhythmic urban feel and opens to the sound of traffic and a street preacher. Sienna and her gospel-flavored backing vocalists belt out the awesome truths of Romans 8 with power. There's a lot of funk in her upbeat songs, as well as some jazz-fused guitar licks on "Come to Me", bringing to mind the mighty George Benson. Producer Eric Copeland assembled a good team and kept a tight rein on any excesses. Half of these offerings are ballads, showcasing Sienna's wide range, her voice soaring on the dramatic "It's Me Who Leaves". "Follow You" loses you with its endless repetitions but "Lost" is most interesting as far as instrumentation and phrasing, with a fresh and lush sound. Over all, a pleasing debut from a talented newcomer.

Reviewed by: Kevan Breitinger - Wordsmith4J@aol.com