Soulful Hymns

Description

Soulful Hymns is the ninth studio album by the American R&B/soul singer and songwriter Jon Gibson, independently released on Gibson’s own Imagery Records in 2002. It’s a collection of hymns covers done in his signature soulful style, as well as one one original entitled “On Calvary”.

Gibson makes a crucial hookup with keyboardist and arranger Bernard Wright (who has worked with artists like Prince, Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack, and David Sanborn). Wright, known for his pioneering work in the early 90’s in which he went before his time with innovative, contemporary and progressive arrangements of gospel standards and hymns. Wright actually was signed to Frontline Records in the early 1990s, the same label as Jon Gibson, where he released three albums; Fresh Hymns 1 and 2, and Brand New Gospel Format. In 1991 he also worked with Commissioned on their ground-breaking Number 7 album, lending his production and keyboard prowess to the hard-hitting project.

For someone of his talents, it has always amazed me that he isn’t in the A List of most successful artists. He’s been ripped off by record companies and treated with indifference by the industry, yet he is still capable of creating brilliant music. This time out he’s created his own record label and maintained total artistic control. OK, so this isn’t a new idea. How many hymns and worship song covers albums are there out on the shelves of your local Christian bookshop? Too many eh? Most of them pedestrian re-treads, bland arrangements, average vocals and yet the companies keep on making them because people keep buying them. Then along comes Jon Gibson, he takes a pile of familiar tunes and does unspeakably wonderful things to them, making the songs his own and offering them up as sweet blue-eyed soul worship. Imagine «I Love You Lord» with a funky little groove under it as if Stevie Wonder was worshipping? There’s even a soulful «Great Is Thy Faithfulness» and two brilliant versions of that popular praise song «Give Thanks». The songs «Glory To His Name» and «What A Friend We Have In Jesus» is given the late night quiet storm treatment. Normally you’d hear me saying that we don’t really need another album of popular praise songs but in the case of Jon Gibson, this is essential listening. Now if only everyone else could retire! [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, July 2002]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/soulful-hymns/291647290)

CD tracklist:

01. Awesome God/Let Him Reign
02. I Love You Lord
03. Give Thanks
04. Great Is Thy Faithfulness
05. On Calvary
06. Lord I Lift Your Name On High
07. Amazing Grace
08. Glory To His Name
09. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
10. Give Thanks (Baby Love Groove Mix)