Jeoffrey Benward

The father-son duo of Aaron and Jeoffrey Benward have crossed the generation gap with an energetic gospel pop on several albums for Star Song/Chordant. The father, Jeoffrey, had been quite involved in Christian music since the '70s, and on having a talk with his son Aaron about what he wanted to do for a living, was surprised to hear that he wanted to do the same. They decided to begin recording together, and though several labels had problems with the eccentric pairing, Aaron & Jeoffrey released their self-titled debut album in 1995. After the Rain followed one year later, after which the pair acknowledged the alternative revolution in secular music by toning down the flawless productions and adding some energy into their songs.

To Aaron Benward, the image of an upward trek sums up perfectly the message of Aaron Jeoffrey's third Star Song Records release, which is fittingly titled The Climb. "As you move up the mountain, you look around the next corner, and you see a place you know you'd like to be," Aaron says. "Or you look around another corner and realize you've been that way before and you don't want to go there again. It's a constant process of growth, of reaching for God."

Their own journey has led the father-son duo to grow into well-defined roles as they release The Climb and prepare to perform its songs on tour. Musically, Aaron takes more of a lead-vocal role. Meanwhile, his dad, Jeoffrey, provides a larger share of the matchless harmonies for which Aaron Jeoffrey has become known on its first two projects, which produced six No. 1 hits, and a "Song of the Year" Dove Award nomination for "He Is."

Stylistically, Aaron Jeoffrey allowed the music on The Climb to develop into a live, more spontaneous sound. "When you put four great musicians in a room together and just let them play, the results are amazing," Jeoffrey says. "We did the song 'Stranger' in one pass."

Giving the album a live feel also allowed Aaron Jeoffrey to anticipate how the music and lyrics will influence audiences when the group goes on tour-a concern that is always foremost in Jeoffrey's mind.

"One of my concerns is, how is each song going to communicate in a live setting?" Jeoffrey says. "Before Aaron Jeoffrey, I had a solo career, and I've been in ministry for a while. So I recognize points during a concert when I need to step up and communicate a message that is relevant to the evening and to all age groups: Aaron is really in touch with the youth culture, and he can speak to their day-to-day issues."

Aaron and Jeoffrey also complement each other in the creative process of selecting songs and settling on a sound and message they want to achieve. "We'll sit down together and talk about the direction we want a song to go," says Jeoffrey. "There are times we differ, but we always work it out."

What's to come for Aaron Jeoffrey? They intend to keep on sharing and-living out in their own lives-a message of grace and mercy. It's a message that is evident in each song on The Climb, but especially on one of Aaron's favorites, "A Moment of Mercy." "We need to know that God's grace and mercy are real," Aaron says. "Lots of Christians beat themselves up. I know I've done that. The message of that song, and the message I want to share, is that God loves us a lot more than we can comprehend."

In Genesis, He is the Breath of Life; In Exodus, the Passsover Lamb
In Leviticus, He is our High Priest
In Numbers He is the fire by night
In Deuteronomy, He is Moses' words
In Joshua, He is salvation's choice
In Judges, the Law of the earth
In Ruth, the Kinsman Redeemer
First and Second Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He is sovereign
In Ezra, the true and faithful scribe
In Nehemiah, He is the Rebuilder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He is Modecai's courage
In Job the timeless Redeemer
In Psalms He is our morning song
In Proverbs Wisdom's Cry
Ecclesiastes, He's the time and seasons
In the Song of Solomon, He is the lover's dream
He is! He is! He is!
In Isaiah, He is the Prince of Peace
In Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
In Lamentations, the cry for Israel.
In Ezekiel, He's the call from sin
In Daniel, the stranger in the fire
In Hosea, He is forever faithful.
In Joel, He 's the Spirit's power
In Amos, the arms that carry us
In Obadiah, He's the Lord our Saviour!
In Jonah, He's the great visionary
In Micah, the promise of peace
In Nahum He is our strength and our zeal.
In Habakkuk, in Zephaniah, He's pleading for revival
In Haggai, He restores the lost heritage.
In Zechariah, our fountain
In Malachi, He is the Son of Righteousness arising with healing in His wings!
He is! He is! He is!
In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God and Messiah
In the Book of Acts, He is the fire from Heaven
In Romans He is the Grace of God
In Corinthians the power of love
In Galatians, He's the freedom from the curse of sin
In Ephesians, our glorious treasure
In Philippians, the Servant
And in Colossians, He is the God in the Trinity
In Thessalonians, our Coming King
In Timothy, Titus and Philemon, He's our mediator and our faithful pasture
In Hebrews, the everlasting covenant
In James the One who heals the sick
In first and second Peter He's our Shepherd
In John 1 and in 2, He is the lover coming for His bride
In Revelations, He's the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
He is! He is! He is!
The Prince of Peace; The Son of Man, The Lamb of God
The Great I am
He is the Alpha and Omega
Our God and Saviour
He is Jesus Christ, the Lord
And when time is no more...He is! He is! He is!