Building on Hymns, Beth Nielsen Chapman's 2004 collection of Catholic praises sung mostly in Latin, the even more ambitious, two-disc Prism celebrates a plethora of faiths from around the world. Recorded over a 10-year span, the album was largely inspired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s concept of a common humanity. The first set features both original and traditional songs in English, stretching the spiritual chanteuse in some surprising ways (the hip-hop-leaning "My Religion"). If some songs veer waywardly into Kenny Loggins with too much cheer and upbeat messaging, Chapman's extraordinary vocal purity, control, and pinpoint intonation still often thrill. The stirring "For the Beauty of the Earth," written in 1864, may just bring listeners to their knees. And "Thank You My Lord," which Chapman co-wrote with the great Hal David, proves that pop-ified contemporary Christian music can be deep, profound, and dignified. Disc Two--on which Chapman sings and chants and in an astonishing nine languages, including Farsi, Welsh, and Hebrew)--is by turns somberly pretty and drivingly hypnotic, but it’s also better appreciated melodically and rhythmically than with devout feeling. Chapman may have done better to integrate these performances, especially the Zulu hymn "Masibulele Ku Jesu," on which she joins with the Soweto a cappella group No Limits. However, whether tackling a Negro spiritual, a Navajo chant, or Buddhist, Muslim, or Sufi works, Chapman presents herself as a moving unifier in the great chain of human connection. --Alanna Nash