There are Standards, and there are Standards. We’ve got the Great American Songbook for jazzers, but rarely are the songs of the spiritual side of Americas music ever explored by jazz artists. Pianist and arranger Earl MacDonald makes an excellent effort in starting a new genre of material, taking songs from the hymnals in which he sings on Sunday mornings and putting them into a modern jazz context. The heavenly focused lyrics are delivered by the lithe toned Karly Epp, supported by Kris Allen/saxes, David Smith/tp-fh, Karl Kohut/b, Rogerio Boccato/dr and guest brass players Alex Gertner/frh and Sean Nelson/btb.
The presentations range from Coltrane-ish modal moods with Allen’s soprano pleading along with Epp on “O God Of Love, Grant Us Your Peace” or a dark rumble led by Boccato and Smith’s horn on “By Our Love” to an indie-toned “Take My Life, And Let It Be Consecrated” with Epp in a reflective reverence. Boccato’s brushes team with hovering reeds on the meditative “Sweet Hour of Prayer” and create a “Poinciana” cadence with his cymbals on “The Love Of God”. There’s a meditative contemplation of “In His Holy Temple” and a mix of swing and supplication on “Be Still My Soul” that makes the album feel timeless in its treasures. As CS Lewis once said, “anything not eternally focused is eternally obsolete”. This is music to last for a millennia.