Reviewed by A T Bradford

The British producer John Hartley now based in Nashville has gathered some fine vocalists to showcase well-constructed renderings of classic hymns. Katie Gustafson's delicate vocals combine with Hartley's guitar to gloriously re-create "According To Thy Gracious Word" with an intelligently re-worked melody line, while another fine singer, Savannah Ellis delivers "More About Jesus" - "More of his love who died for me." Yet another excellent female voice (where do they find them all?) is from Joanna Beasley performing "Bleeding Saviour" with a soothing blend of musical tone and truth - "And the marvel of the ages, the grief you bore to pay sin's wages." There is some fine roots guitar fretwork on "This I Know", with Katie Gustafson in duet with Chris Weningar. A further excellent lady vocalist is Abby Eaton (aka Abby Scott) who leads on "Man Of Sorrows" accompanied by husband Chris on keyboard. These are sensitive and creative re-arrangements of classics that must surely have the original composers tapping their feet in Heaven's grandstand. 'The Hymns Collective' breathes new musical life into old spiritual truths.

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