Both of Kirk Whalum’s offerings under the Gospel According To Jazz title are incredible, must-have additions to your music collection.  And I think folks kinda Slept On both of ‘em.

The Gospel According To Jazz: Chapter 1 was saxophonist Kirk Whalum’s first in this series, but he didn’t hold back AT ALL.  His band featured some jazz greats, including keyboard legend George Duke.  Stand-out tracks for me on this album are “In All The Earth,” “Blessed Assurance,” and “Where He Leads Me”– the full song AND its reprise. 

Later came The Gospel According To Jazz: Chapter 2, which was JUST as phenomenal, featuring some vocal heavy-hitters like Tata Vega and Jonathan Butler.  Stand-out tracks on that project include “Falling In Love With Jesus” (your praise team was singin’ it like crazy, but you didn’t buy the album?!), “Spirit Medley,” and the love song “The Moment I Prayed,” a duet featuring Kim Burrell and Kirk’s brother, Kevin Whalum.

Oh, and while you’re rushing NOW to purchase the first two albums, you can buy the limited pre-release of The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter 3, a DOUBLE DISC CD/DVD featuring another stellar band (including George Duke) AND Lalah Hathaway. For more info: http://www.kirkwhalum.com/.

Who has Chapters 1 and 2 already?  Who slept?  Who’s buyin’ NOW?  Anyone already got the pre-release?  Lemme know!!!

Hey y’all.  Check out Jazz Gospel Central, a new website for folks who love jazz, gospel, and the combination of the two.  It’s a well-done, comprehensive site that provides some history of the genre, interviews with jazz gospel greats, upcoming events, and even tips for musicians.

Outside of Ben Tankard, Angella Christie, Jeff Majors and Kirk Whalum, I am admittedly ignorant about jazz gospel.  It may be because I always think of jazz gospel as that music they play at church banquets before the program gets started, or when the fashion show happens.  Every time I hear it, I instinctively want to ask somebody to pass the rolls…

So, I’ma have to check it out and step up my game cuz there’s already too much division within the genre of “gospel” music.  And these folks truly are musical powerhouses.  Real jazz is HARD to play and you’ve gotta know all types of music theory and what not to be authentic.  So, let’s support it.  We’re broadening our horizons, people!

http://www.jazzgospelcentral.com/

I have this little rule: no Christmas music before Thanksgiving. So, when Turkey Day is over, I’m never too devastated– some of the greatest, most nostalgic music in my collection can finally be played for the next month.

I cannot possibly share it all with you, but over the next four weeks, I’m gonna try my absolute best. All of the folks won’t be gospel artists, but they’re singing about the birth of the King, so… yeah.

Up first is Kelly Price. She released her Christmas album One Family: A Christmas Album in 2001.  She’s got some great arrangements of classic songs, plus some good original ones.

She also enlists the help of Mary Mary, Kirk Whalum, Donnie McClurkin, BeBe Winans, Shirley Murdock, the Williams Brothers and Wynonna Judd, among others.  One of my favorite tracks is “Silent Night,” arranged by Donald Lawrence (which, incidentally, I first fell in love with back in 1991, when Stephanie Mills recorded the same version on her Christmas album).  Also worthy of mention is “In Love at Christmas,” the churchy “O Come All Ye Faithful” and her rock/gospel version of “Go Tell It,” especially the vamp.

For those of you who haven’t been impressed with the lackluster holiday offerings of most current artists, do yourself a favor and add a new favorite to your collection.  It’s an instant classic.

Listen to (and prolly fall in love with) “Silent Night”:

Well???