Description
Light the Night is the first collaborative instrumental album by Kenneth Nash and John Mehler of Love Song fame, released on A&S Records in April 1984, a sub-label of Maranatha! Music. The basic tracks were recorded by Bill Cobb at his Poiema Studios in Camarillo and John Vestman at Trianon Recording Studios in Long Beach, California; with John Mehler and Kenneth Nash producing. (Overdubs recorded by Andy Narrell, Ken Nash, and Mike Hersh at Nash Studios in Oakland, California.) Mixed at Nash Studios. Arranged by Wayne Brasel.
Featuring a core band consisting of Wayne Brasel on Gibson “Chet Atkins” guitar and electric guitars, John Patitucci on bass, John Mehler on drums, and Kenneth Nash on percussion.
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]
I approached Light the Night with hesitation. Although Maranatha! Music blazed significant trails in the early days of gospel’s marriage to rock, many of its recent works have failed to interest me. It has nothing to do with great theological or musical disputes. The music, or what I heard of it on the radio, was simply too mellow – the sort of thing people refer to while saying, “Gee whiz, I find the Lord has been mellowing me out.” “Don’t blame God”, I’ve always wanted to say.
My fears are, as usual, unfounded. John Mehler and Kenneth Nash have produced an album of praise songs – most of which have appeared on past Maranatha! Music Praise albums – in a lively, intense jazz fusion style. There is literally not a song on this album that I failed to appreciate on some level.
Although I’ve sung «I Love You Lord» many times during worship services, I hardly recognized it on Light the Night. That’s no complaint, though. This version was similar to «Pacific Sunrise» by Spiro Gyra, which gave it a more spontaneous and genuine feeling that the versions often droned out in churches.
From the joyous steel drums of the calypso-flavored «It’s Time to Praise the Lord» to the reworking of the classic hymn «Praise to the Lord, the Almighty», Light the Night is full of instrumentals that in their very beauty and reverence proclaim the glory of God. If you love jazz fusion, or if you’re learning to love it, Light the Night is a treasure. [Doug LeBlanc, CCM, August 1984]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/jazz-praise-light-the-night/716236478)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Humble Thyself In The Sight Of The Lord” – 6:04
A2. “(Don’t You Know) It’s Time To Praise The Lord” – 3:37
A3. “You Are My Hiding Place” – 5:12
A4. “Psalm 42 (Longing For You)” – 3:24
A5. “Praise The Lord, The Almighty” – 2:46
Side Two
B1. “I Love You, Lord” – 5:06
B2. “The Lord Reigns” – 6:52
B3. “Proverbs 31” – 5:35
B4. “A Shield About Me” – 5:26
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by A&S Records. 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).
CREDITS. Produced by John Mehler and Kenneth Nash. Arranged by Wayne Brasel. Basic tracks recorded at Poiema Studios (Bill Cobb / Engineer) and Trianon Studios (John Vestman / Engineer). Overdubs recorded at Nash Studios (Andy Narrell, Ken Nash, and Mike Hersh / Engineers). Mix down / Nash Studios, Oakland, CA. Art direction / Alex McDougall. Design and Layout / Gary Delacy. Photography / E. Streichan.
Musicians: John Patitucci (Bass), John Mehler (Drums), Kenneth Nash (Percussion), Wayne Brasel (Gibson “Chet Atkins” Guitar and Electric Guitar). Additional players: David Coy (Bass), Rich Girard (Bass), Cal Lewiston (Flugelhorn), Frank Martin (Synthesizer), Peter Maunu (Electric Guitar), Andy Narell (Steel Drums, Acoustic Piano), Louis Pardini (Fender Rhodes), Starr Parodi (Fender Rhodes), Larry Schneider (Tenor and Soprano Sax), David Siebels (Fender Rhodes, Synthesizer).
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