Mark Schultz Live . . . A Night Of Stories & Songs is a gift for fans. The two disc CD/DVD, with matching audio content except for the studio version of "I Am" (a new song) at the end of the CD, showcases the stories that have become songs like the popular "He's My Son." If you have listened to Christian radio for any length of time, chances are you have heard his hit songs, which are faithfully and energetically reproduced here.
He does so with warmth, a sense of humor and the occasional brief background information. We get a partial preview of another new song, "Walking Her Home," which Schultz has some fun with even though it's not complete.
The songs alternate between the upbeat, when he plays keyboards and is joined by a band consisting of guitar, bass and drums, and the piano ballads where he gets excellent cello support from the renowned John Catchings.
The DVD production is excellent with good lighting, quality sound, an enthusiastic audience, and multi-angle shots in an intimate theater setting. There is plenty of bonus material including the music videos "I Have Been There" and "Letters From War," which are both well done. In the section titled "Stories Behind The Songs" Schultz walks us through the places and memories of his past and recounts his quest to make it in the music business.
If you like Mark Schultz, or if you like adult contemporary pop that pulls on your heartstrings, you will most likely enjoy this. On the other hand, songs that can be similar sounding and ballads that may seem overly sentimental might not be enjoyable for those who want something more. His voice is so strong and he sings with so much passion that it can be a little overpowering at times. I found myself drawn to the softer and slower "Time That Is Left," and the closing song, "Remember Me."
On this release Mark Schultz reveals himself as a likeable and talented artist. It's obvious from the crowd singing along that his songs move many. The CD and the DVD together make for a good value.
3 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Joe MontagueMark Schultz's CD / DVD set A Night of Stories and Songs is a rarity in the music industry today. The always personable Schultz set out to provide glimpses into his personal life and to pay tribute to the people who helped him along the way. What we get instead is a mini biography of one of the more gifted and nicest people in the industry today. If you have the advantage of meeting Schultz, you…The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Brian A. SmithHearing Mark Schultz always makes me think of a relatively unknown artist from Cincinnati named Jeff Sack. Both are adept at power pop vocals and both write moving, sometimes maudlin songs that will tug at your heartstrings. But while Sack never rose above opening for Rich Mullins and playing the church camp circuit, Schultz has become a rising star in the CCM world. Live is almost a greatest…Similar sounding releases
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