Back surgery is not enough to keep Israel Houghton from going full throttle towards the release of Israel & New Breed’s sixth Integrity Music release, A Deeper Level, on September 4th.

Following back surgery on Friday, August 10th in Houston, Houghton has fully recovered and is back to work maintaining a full promotional and touring schedule as well as fulfilling his worship leader duties at Lakewood Church, all leading up to A Deeper Level’s release date.

“Thanks to everyone for your prayers,” Houghton said. “What was a very minor procedure turned in to a major outpouring of love.”

An outpouring of critical acclaim and sales success are expected to follow the release of A Deeper Level on September 4th. A Deeper Level was produced by the award-winning team of Israel Houghton and Aaron Lindsey. The CD is packed with energetic praise and worship songs but also shows a contemplative and prayerful side to Israel & New Breed reflecting the group’s desire that A Deeper Level moves listeners to deeper worship that leads to acts of compassion and justice.

A special part of A Deeper Level is the A-list Christian and gospel artists who make guest appearances on the CD. The 2006-7 Dove Award Artist of the Year Chris Tomlin co-wrote and provides a vocal on I Know Who I Am. GRAMMY® Award-winning Jonny Lang displays his world-renown guitar skills and smooth vocals on the acoustic You Are Not Forgotten while West Coast rap veteran T-Bone guests on With Long Life. International Worship Leader Darlene Zschech also appears providing a prayerful introduction to the song Deeper.

“Israel Houghton’s music defies categorization. You cannot box him into a genre. His sound isn’t black or white or Latin. It isn’t Gospel or CCM (Contemporary Christian) or rock. It’s a Spirit sound, a Kingdom sound and with A Deeper Level, he’s created his best music yet,” said Don Moen, president of Integrity Music.

Releasing simultaneously with the CD will be the Whitaker House book A Deeper Level, Houghton’s first endeavour as an author. The book offers Houghton’s take on what it means to truly live a lifestyle of worship. In addition to Houghton’s personal insights, members of the New Breed team include their thoughts on topics such as pulling down idols, being ever aware of God’s presence, and embracing new mind-sets. A Deeper Level also includes images of band members and lyrics from the new CD.

In support of the new record and book, Houghton conducts a photo shoot and interview for Ebony Magazine later this week, and then heads to Chicago with New Breed for a street date event sponsored by The Music Experience store. “The Experience with Israel & New Breed” will include an interview, performance and CD signing at The DuSable Museum in South Chicago. Hometown Houston celebrates the release the next day with a KSBJ radio and Chick-Fil-A sponsored Brown Bag Event at the Wal-Mart Super Center in West Houston.

Following the promotional visits, Israel & New Breed, will also tour the new record extensively with a 30-plus city fall “A Deeper Level Tour”. In the midst of all this activity, Houghton will continue serving his role as a worship leader for Lakewood Church in Houston, under the pastoral leadership of Joel Osteen. That church just claimed the #1 spot on Outreach magazine’s list of the 100 Largest U.S. Churches with 45,000 attendees a week.

A Deeper Level will be spotlight priced at $17.99 or less for a limited time at participating Canadian Christian retail. A Special Edition will also be available and will include a bonus DVD featuring three songs plus additional footage. The initial pressing of both the standard and Special Edition will feature a limited edition lenticular cover. In addition, the album will be premiered on HearItFirst.ca this Friday together with Monk & Neagle.

For more information, visit Israel And New Breed’s YMZ artist page.

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