Thrush Hour

Description

Thrush Hour, sub-titled Music to Make it Through Your Day, is an instrumental album by the American session saxophonist Dave Thrush of Steve Taylor‘s Some Band fame, released on Sparrow Records in 1995, distributed in the US by Chordant Distribution Group. The album was produced by David Hamilton (tracks 5, 8, 9, and 10), Matt Huesmann (tracks 2, 6, 7, and 12), and Blair Masters (tracks 1, 3, 4, and 11). Mixed by Bill Deaton at Gambit Studios in Gallatin, Tennessee; assisted by Carey Summers and Darren Smith. All saxophones played by Dave Thrush.

Aside from the questionable title (it caused my wife to grin) this is a really classy collection of worship tunes played in a variety of saxophone instrumental arrangements. I found it very reminiscent of some of Grover Washington’s work, silky smooth mostly, but with just enough gutsy turns to keep you going. My initial thought when I saw the cover was of those ‘Praise Him On The…’ albums of a couple of years ago, but nothing could be further from the truth. The choice of material is excellent – opening with Mullins’ «El Shaddai» this is a collection of a dozen pieces, whose highlight for me was the Charlie Peacock/Margaret Becker number «Say The Name» – which has some truly inspired vocal accompaniment. The best parallel you could draw at the moment is with Kenny G’s current release, although for my money, even leaving aside the fact that these are gospel tunes I’ve spiritually grown up with, Dave’s record is better than Kenny’s. [Philip Crawley, Cross Rhythms, December 1996]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/thrush-hour/724940207)

CD tracklist:

01. El Shaddai – 4:07
02. His Strength Is Perfect / Hiding Place – 4:33
03. Say The Name – 5:30
04. Lamb Of God / How Beautiful / He Is Exalted – 5:03
05. People Need The Lord – 4:56
06. The Greatest Thing – 3:58
07. There Is A Redeemer – 4:05
08. I Will Be Here – 4:24
09. Friends / Great Is The Lord / Hosanna / How Majestic Is Your Name – 6:46
10. Jesus Is The Answer – 4:57
11. Tomorrow – 3:58
12. We Will Stand – 4:43

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Sparrow Records.