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Good things, as the saying goes, don't come easy - or quickly, according to the legions of Russ Taff fans who have been eagerly and impatiently waiting for his brand new project on Benson Records to hit the stores. But the artist, who Billboard Magazine has called "the single most electrifying voice in Christian music," has made the wait worthwhile.
His new release, Right Here Right Now, sets an unprecedented standard of creative depth and distinction. Unflinchingly honest and often astonishingly vulnerable, Taff's latest collection of songs explore both his faith and humanity. The result is a soaring work of celebration and sorrow, triumph and regret. It is a unique opportunity to bear witness to a man who, like most of us, is striving to know and understand himself and God.
Russ Taff was born the fourth of five sons to a fire-breathing Pentecostal preacher father and a gospel music loving mother. He learned early on that when he sang, people sat up and responded with feeling. Some of his earliest memories are of being balanced on the church altar by his mother's strong arms while he belted out a gospel chorus to the rollicking encouragement of the tiny congregation.
His trademark rich, emotion-drenched vocals were formed in that fertile environment. After moving to Arkansas in his teens, Taff began his singing career by forming a local band called Sounds of Joy, before being invited to join the legendary group The Imperials. As the lead vocalist with The Imperials, he toured extensively and recorded a number of award-winning albums. Leaving to pursue a solo career, Taff gained further industry prominence by releasing a series of innovative works that simultaneously delved into his musical heritage while pushing the boundaries of contemporary Christian music.
Never predictable, always diverse, Taff laughs about his eclectic musical tastes. "I guess I'm just not a right-down-the-middle kind of guy," he cheerfully admits. "I've always colored outside of the lines a little bit. Musically, I try to never place restrictions on myself. If it moves me, I figure it will probably move other people too." Apparently he's right. However you choose to label it, Russ Taff's music has won a wide audience and garnered the kind of critical acclaim that has resulted in a total of five Grammy awards and nine Gospel Music Association Dove awards.
On Right Here Right Now, Taff has once again teamed with his longtime co-producer and guitarist James Hollihan Jr., and wife Tori, who he describes as "my favorite lyricist." This album also marks the beginning of a writing collaboration with Marcus Hummon, a well-known and highly respected Nashville tunesmith.
"We've been able to do some things I've always wanted to do on this project," says Taff. "There's a real wide range of experiences here, with a lot of different colors." If that sounds more like a painter than a singer speaking, there's a reason for that too. Taff is indeed an artist.
The song palette of Right Here Right Now ranges from the intensely heartfelt "Cry For Mercy," to the rowdy rocker, "Lazarus, Get Up," and includes an extraordinarily triumphant, almost cinematic composition called "Shadow Of The Cross." Two of the most poignant cuts deal with Taff's often conflicted relationship with his father, who died last year. One of them, "Long Hard Road" speaks with painful candor of the complications of this loss.
Right Here Right Now is a benchmark; a pivotal album by an artist clearly at the top of his form. The listener is invited to join on the road toward grace and redemption - a road we're all traveling - with a man of passion, faith and resilience
His trademark rich, emotion-drenched vocals were formed in that fertile environment. After moving to Arkansas in his teens, Taff began his singing career by forming a local band called Sounds of Joy, before being invited to join the legendary group The Imperials. As the lead vocalist with The Imperials, he toured extensively and recorded a number of award-winning albums. Leaving to pursue a solo career, Taff gained further industry prominence by releasing a series of innovative works that simultaneously delved into his musical heritage while pushing the boundaries of contemporary Christian music.
Never predictable, always diverse, Taff laughs about his eclectic musical tastes. "I guess I'm just not a right-down-the-middle kind of guy," he cheerfully admits. "I've always colored outside of the lines a little bit. Musically, I try to never place restrictions on myself. If it moves me, I figure it will probably move other people too." Apparently he's right. However you choose to label it, Russ Taff's music has won a wide audience and garnered the kind of critical acclaim that has resulted in a total of five Grammy awards and nine Gospel Music Association Dove awards.
On Right Here Right Now, Taff has once again teamed with his longtime co-producer and guitarist James Hollihan Jr., and wife Tori, who he describes as "my favorite lyricist." This album also marks the beginning of a writing collaboration with Marcus Hummon, a well-known and highly respected Nashville tunesmith.
"We've been able to do some things I've always wanted to do on this project," says Taff. "There's a real wide range of experiences here, with a lot of different colors." If that sounds more like a painter than a singer speaking, there's a reason for that too. Taff is indeed an artist.
The song palette of Right Here Right Now ranges from the intensely heartfelt "Cry For Mercy," to the rowdy rocker, "Lazarus, Get Up," and includes an extraordinarily triumphant, almost cinematic composition called "Shadow Of The Cross." Two of the most poignant cuts deal with Taff's often conflicted relationship with his father, who died last year. One of them, "Long Hard Road" speaks with painful candor of the complications of this loss.
Right Here Right Now is a benchmark; a pivotal album by an artist clearly at the top of his form. The listener is invited to join on the road toward grace and redemption - a road we're all traveling - with a man of passion, faith and resilience.
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