Search - Various Artists :: Songs of Hymn

Nominated for a Dove Award (Instrumental Album of the Year) with their previous effort--Songs of December--producer Todd Collins and keyboardist Eric Lautenbach are back with a light jazz interpretation of contemporary church hymns. There are the easily recognizable tracks like "My Jesus, I Love Thee" and "It Is Well," which are hardly reworked from the originals. On the other end, Collins and Lautenbach, along with help from guitarist Michael Ripoll, dramatically rework such standards as "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" and "Crown Him With Many Crowns/Jesus Loves Me" with delightful results. Similar pleasant results can be found through the catchy rhythms interwoven in the age-old standard "Amazing Grace," a song recorded so many times in history it's hard to believe that something new could be done. The release is not without blemish as the closing "When We All Get To Heaven" paints an afterlife full of elevator muzak. Saint Peter, please check this song at the gate, will ya? So if you're looking to spice up that church phone system waiting line, or for a soundtrack to a sunny Sunday morning, give Songs of Hymn a try. And also give credit to Collins and Lautenbach who put a fresh coat of musical varnish on old, comfortable hymns that--like a good rocking chair--admirably stand the test of time. --Michael Lyttle