Ricky Dillard & New G Essentials

Editors’ Notes Ricky Dillard doesn’t sing or play—but boy, does he make himself heard. The New Generation (New G for short) choir and band are his instruments, and as a bandleader and choirmaster, Dillard has become one of the most popular figures in contemporary gospel music. When the Chicago band ratchets the momentum up to a breakneck level with hurtling R&B grooves on tunes like "I've Got the Victory", the choir's passion and intensity become all the more palpable. But even on less speedy tracks like "Through It All", the New G choir's soulful voices still serve notice that Dillard's brand of gospel spreads the Good News with brio.