Description
Jazz Praise is the second instrumental album by John Mehler (of Love Song fame) and Kenneth Nash, released on Maranatha! Music in 1985.
When these albums first came out in the mid 80s they were rather overlooked. Yet taking two experienced Christian music session men, drummer John Mehler and percussionist/synth man Kenneth Nash and allowing them to assemble a crew of hand picked jazzos to perform well known and not-so-well-known praise and worship songs was a brilliant idea. Not every arrangement on ‘Light The Night‘ works, the mock steel-drum of «It’s Time To Praise The Lord» quickly palls, but when they do, like the fluidly haunting «Humble Yourself In The Sight Of The Lord» (catch Paul Cantos’ ‘3AM in the morning’ sax) or Donn Thomas’ «A Shield Above Me» the effect is stunning. On ‘Jazz Praise’, the way over-exposed choruses like «Jesus, Name Above All Names» or the classic hymn «Amazing Grace» are given a whole new lease of life by changing a chord here and there, adding some tricky time sequences and setting them off with some cool and tasteful solos is nothing short of masterly. If you don’t find this kind of pop-jazz so much yuppie muzak, here is finely played music for background listening or a contemplative aid in your devotions. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, June 1991]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/jazz-praise-light-the-night/716236478)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “The Lord Bless Thee” – 2:50
A2. “Sing Hallelujah” – 3:36
A3. “Draw Me Nearer” – 3:59
A4. “Spirit Song” – 4:26
A5. “Dance Before The Throne” – 2:08
Side Two
B1. “Hear My Cry (Lead Me To The Rock)” – 4:44
B2. “Jesus, Name Above All Names” – 4:47
B3. “I Will Celebrate” – 2:28
B4. “Come Let Us Worship And Bow Down” – 3:18
B5. “Amazing Grace” – 2:56
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Maranatha! Music. Re-issued on CD by Maranatha! Music in 1991, featuring both 1984’s Light The Night (except track A3) and 1985’s Jazz Praise (except track A5).
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