Welcome to Season 2 of the Pitch Pipecast! To kick things off, we have Marcus "Bizzy B" Barnum of the Houston-based The Soul Influence. TSI have been singing for almost a decade. Not only do they have a great sound, they truly have a heart for ministry. Their new album, "You Gotta Believe", was produced by Essej, the lead singer of the group Straight Company. The album won't be released until late April... which means, once again, you hear it here first!

You can find out more about The Soul Influence by visiting their website, thesoulinfluence.com.

This week the Pipecast highlights Eric Gwin, solo a cappella artist. Yes, you read that correctly... solo a cappella artist. Eric comes from a background of group a cappella work and runs his own studio called "The Cage." But if you catch him live in concert, you catch HIM live in concert (plus him on tracks). What's it like doing acappella solo in a group-oriented world? Well, you can go ask Bobby McFerrin or listen to this podcast. Your choice.

You can find out more about Eric and his ministry at his website or his personal blog.

Episode 9 features an interview with Chris Lindsey of Watershed Worship. Chris and crew have recently returned from a tour of South Africa. He shares their experience and some of the music that inspired them on their trip. You also get to hear music from their new album "I Know You Love Me." Also, you get the inside scoop on their recent American Idol redeaux (is that a word?) with Mandisa.

You can learn more about Chris at his blog site and more about Watershed at their website, watershedworship.com
 

Special guest on this Pipecast is Josh Wheeler of Legacy. We spend some time talking with Josh and get a preview of their new self-titled release (less than a week old).

Legacy first started in 2003 as a college-based group at Lubbock Christian University. They disbanded after a couple of years and went their separate ways. Nick Gaultney, formerly of the Vocal Union, was a member of the original Legacy.

After several years apart, the group came back together again stronger than before. Legacy is currently Josh Wheeler, John Paul Sheppard, Jake Lierman and Clint Dickerson.

Episode 7 was recorded live at Acafest 2007 in Nashville. It features a roundtable discussion with several artists: Brian Wiersma of Vocal Union, Danice Sweet of Revival, Lanier Stevens of Sounds of Glory, Robin Brannon of Acappella and Melissa Lancaster of Durant. These five artists represent a wide scope of a capella music, both in style and age. This podcast recording took place before a small crowd late in the evening and covers a wide range of topics... from favorite songs and favorite moments, through the hope found in gospel music, and all the way to what to do when your slip falls off in concert. A fun episode!

This week we visit with Wes McKinzie, former bass for AVB, the Acappella Vocal Band. Wes sang with AVB for almost eight years and remains the definitive bass of the group. After departing from Acappella Ministries, Wes moved to Oklahoma City and started a long relationship with Oklahoma Christian University. One of the many positions he now holds with the school is director of their singing group called New Reign.

We catch up with Wes and find out where he's been, how the group is doing and what the future holds. You also get to hear a little music...

Episode 5 is a sneak preview of the new Vocal Union album "Just Like the Old Days." Gary Miller, leader of the Vocal Union, joins the Pipecast and tells about the background of the songs on the album.  Six different songs are included in this Pipecast, and you get to hear them two weeks before the album releases. Only on the Pipe!  

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, VU has been touring the country for the past eleven years performing for special church events, community concerts and fund raisers. Their fan base has spread worldwide with fans from Iceland, Nigeria, Brazil and other countries. Vocal Union's style ranges from high-energy traditional, to tight harmony jazz and soulful spirituals, to contemporary street corner a capella. Their website can be found at www.vocalunion.com.