Steve Kuban – Jump For Jesus
December 24, 2008 by Calvin Vaz
Filed under Music, Reviews
Steve Kuban…the highly successful Gospel singer-songwriter is a testimony to God’s love even before you can play any of his tracks: He was once an atheist who went out of his way to write songs against God. His story, in which he says: “God, if you are not real, then I’m wasting just 20 seconds of my life praying to you, but if you are…” is heart warming, and it’s good to know when you’re going to be surrendering your next few minutes listening to his work.
Jump! For Jesus is a short album containing four songs, and is dedicated to the nation of Trinidad. “How come?”, I hear you disgruntled non-Trinidad’s ask?. Quite simple actually - that’s the land where Caribbean music comes as naturally to people, as you and me reaching out for that cup of coffee every morning. So Steve, the decent chap that he is, took time out at a studio at Ontario, to dress up the tracks in a distinctive percussive groove, to get them going.
The first track (also the title song) is Jump! For Jesus. Unfortunately, it was also the most disappointing song for me. The drum production is quite plain, and overall sounds amateurish. The energy doesn’t really quite come through on this recording…especially if you’ve missed seeing him perform this live with his fantastic band, where he used this song ‘to challenge the Filipinos’ during his gigs in the Philippines (It worked, they jumped like crazy).
The next track Seven Ways To Praise The Lord does raise the bar a bit, but not by much. The song’s lyrics appeal in parts, but overall, it wasn’t something that made me want to hear it again before moving on. The main vocal in both these two tracks could have been a bit more polished, considering that the instrumentation was kept simple.
It comes down to the two slower tracks to lift the album up. Welcome Holy Spirit is a beautiful song that means so much to many people, and Steve renders a beautiful version of it…quite different from what I’ve heard before.
The last track I Will Fight For You, is what really touched me. This was ‘a spontaneous song inspired by the Holy Spirit during concerts in Kuwait (chorus) and Dubai, UAE (verse)’. It a beautiful song that Steve dedicates ‘to all our brothers and sisters undergoing persecution throughout the world’.
These last two tracks have some rather tasteful guitar playing by Glenn Atkinson and Johnny Nixon complementing Steve’s vocal. Another thing to note: the whole album has got great backing vocals. So if you’re going to add this album to your cart, it’s definitely going to be for the last song.
Roydon Thuring on Sun, 11th Jan 2009 12:46 pm
I totally agree that Brother Steve Kuban…the highly successful Gospel singer-songwriter and your coments, besides Jump for Jesus, Bro. Stave have many more albums for God’s glory.
Bro. Steve is schedule to visit Doha from March 27 to April 05 (subject to obtaing all relavant approvals). Please pray for this event “An Evening With Steve Kuban” and keep your readers informed of this oppertunity to see him live.
God Bless You
Roydon
Steve Kuban on Sat, 17th Jan 2009 9:18 pm
Hi friends. Thanks to Calvin for his comments and critique of “Jump For Jesus.” As Roydon Thuring mentioned in his previous email, I have over ten other albums that may also be of interest including “the Lord Is My Tower,” “More of the River”, and “Pearl of Great Price.”
It’s significant to me personally that this spring 2009 I will be returning to the Gulf region (see Roydon’s email above), where the Lord Jesus inspired spontaneously the song “I Will Fight For You” while I was in Kuwait and United Arab Emirates. God willing I will be leading worship (for the first time) in Doha, Qatar, March 27-April 5th. Please do pray for us to have success obtaining the necessary permits and permissions from the authorities, as there are big spiritual battles and strong principalities to face and overcome for this monumental event to take place.
Regarding “I Will Fight For You”, this song has so many amazing testimonies connected with it. Of particular interest to your Catholic readers may be this fact: several years ago, when many citizens in the Philippines were facing persecution and challenge, that the Lord allowed me to sing “I Will Fight For You” at Easter for a very large Catholic audience in Manila numbering hundreds of thousands. I encourage you to check out the video clip at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nV4Hy5CJwk. If you can imagine hundreds of thousands of worshippers holding candles singing and declaring God’s power and supremecy over His nation and His children of the Philippines, you can begin to feel the power of this song to enact spiritual change in nations. It’s very encouraging. This song will always be deep within my spirit God’s prophetic declaration to all His children around the world, that HE will always be there to fight the battles for us and bring us into victory in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Your readers may feel free to contact me at stevekuban@hotmail.com, or call me at +1-416-967-7447. May God bless you all!
Steve Kuban
Andrea on Thu, 22nd Jan 2009 1:56 am
“I will fight for you” has become for me what “I will survive” became to the secular world. I call it my Anthem for difficulty.
That “song” alone has taken me through so many major “Thresholds” of pain and fear. I have gained revelation from the words… That I don’t need to fight, He’ll do it (by the power of his Spirit)
It is my VICTORY SONG that takes me from day to day and I bless Steve Kuban for it. May the Lord continue to use him abundantly.
Jun Muring on Mon, 9th Mar 2009 3:15 am
I remember when i played bass guitar with Bro Steve Kuban on Easter Sunday 2005 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.Its a great experienced and privileged to play with a professional like him. But one thing i could say is that-there’s no such difference on being with other worshippers in such a way that we worship only one GOd.And without God’s presence -it’s NOTHING.
Jump for Jesus.Its a short song but the impact is too much.I believe its not only to understand literally but to “stand in every seconds of our life proclaiming the victory we have whether we are happy or depressed”
To Bro Steve. I appreciate hearing that you have many more albums to come.Hopefully, we’re able to meet again in any part of this world.Lets continue the hunger and thirsty for righteousness!!!
Jenisse Lokai on Wed, 12th Aug 2009 6:15 pm
I like your music alot , we use it to sing in our church, it really glorifies the name of GOD. I am from trinidad a caribbean island and i kove listening to music that glorifies GOD.
Laila Gomes on Fri, 13th Nov 2009 11:55 pm
Wow, I did not know that Steve Kuban has been to this part of the world - Gulf. Steve, I just love all your songs, the words are so true and full of meaning especially to people who are going through trials and tribulations! Thank you for making such wonderful music!
Thank you Lord and Praise your Holy Name!
Laila Gomes, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Samuel Asante Antwi, UK on Fri, 29th Oct 2010 10:44 pm
I heard a radio station in London playing Steve Kuban’s albulm ‘for the Lord is my Tower’ over and over again. Infact they could play it for two to three hours a day. i rang the station to find out who that artist was. i was told the name is Steve kuban. I love hallowed be thy name, i’m forever grateful and the atmosphere of worship on this album. i went to CLC and Wesley Owen christian cds and bookshop to get a copy but unfortunately they have not heard the name.
I checked online to see where i can get a copy of that album but a shop in singapore was showing up.
steve i will be grateful if you could get me a copy of that album.
i have 4 of the songs on that album but i will be happy if i have the entire album.
God Bless u Steve.
Samuel
Lance D'Souza on Thu, 9th Dec 2010 6:36 am
Dear Steve,
I love to listen to your albums. In fact, our Prayer Group will be singing “Jump for Jesus” for Our ‘Praise Adonai’ prayer meeting on New Year’s eve.
I have only one comment, “Could you add a few more verses” when you come up with a new version.
Q on Wed, 19th Jan 2011 4:42 pm
I want to buy a copy of the cd Jump for Jesus, can you help me.