The best live recordings reveal something new about the artist, both personally and artistically. Nicole C. Mullen's Live in Cincinnati admirably achieves both: On the musical front, we have fresh takes on Mullen favorites such as "Redeemer," "Call On Jesus," and "Witness," plus the new composition "Music of My Heart" and her rendition of "On My Knees," a song that Mullen wrote but Jaci Velasquez made a No. 1 hit. Mullen is a stellar live performer, and her signature fusion of hip-hop, pop, R&B, and gospel resonate more powerfully live than in a sterile studio environment -- this music begs participation, not passivity. But what really makes Live in Cincinnati a bouncing good time is the warmth and personality she brings to this concert. Recorded in her hometown in June 2003, Live unites family, friends, stories about her childhood and, of course, the importance of faith. There's Mullen's father holding his own on "Redeemer," her daughter Jasmine chiming in on "Black White Tan," stories about being "beauty challenged" as a youngster, and Mullen's own simple but charming testimony. By the time Live wraps with the simple a cappella refrain from "O Come All Ye Faithful," the feeling is that we've shared a special evening, indeed. Lisa Zhito