Reviewed by Alan & Angeline Chesters

This is a collection of 12 tracks from previously released albums – ‘Big Band Praise’, volumes 1 and 2, ‘Breathe Easy’ by Ben Castle and ‘Ben And Roy Castle’s Big Celebration’. As such, I can’t imagine that it’s value for money as consumers of this style will already have the tracks. No doubt the musicianship and production are fine but I’m not a fan of songs by Bilborough, Crouch, Kendrick and others, including some traditional hymnwriters, being given this treatment. The sleeve enthuses, “We are in the throes of a jazz revival with swing-based music entering the charts,” but the rather cornball renditions here are another matter.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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