The Mark Edwards Swing Gospel Jazz Orchestra - The Mark Edwards Swing Gospel Jazz Orchestra

Published Sunday 8th November 2009
The Mark Edwards Swing Gospel Jazz Orchestra - The Mark Edwards Swing Gospel Jazz Orchestra
The Mark Edwards Swing Gospel Jazz Orchestra - The Mark Edwards Swing Gospel Jazz Orchestra

STYLE: Jazz
RATING 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 77998-15597
LABEL: Elevation ICC1279D
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1
RELEASE DATE: 2009-03-22
RRP: £7.99

Reviewed by Alastair McCollum

A much respected jazz musician, session pianist and record producer (whose story Cross Rhythms published a while back), Edwards offers here an outstanding album packed with top quality musicianship which conveys passion, tenderness, joy, emotion and conviction. There are moments on this album, such as during the full band sound of "Hymn To Freedom" and the powerful reworking of "Amazing Grace", when if you close your eyes you could be forgiven for thinking you are following a New Orleans jazz funeral procession. The authentic feel of this album is founded on classic sound of jazz from the deep south, whilst drawing influences from the wider world of jazz music, for instance in "I'll Wait And Pray" and "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" there is an improvised piano-based feel that you might expect to get in a smoky nightclub or jazz bar. Whatever your preference, from the opening piano and muted trumpet of "Battle Hymn Of The Republic" to the uplifting cover of Chris Tomlin's "How Great Is Our God" this is an album to savour. Over the years the Christian record companies have delivered their share of "jazz praise" duds. This, emphatically, isn't one of them.

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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Product Description
Performances that are rich, and full of feeling, tenderness and power set this CD apart from so many instrumental albums. Each arrangement is lovingly crafted, and rooted in praise. The difference is tangible; a listening experience that will move you into a sense of the Father. Mark takes a number of well-known worship tunes and offers fresh arrangements and expressive performances, backed by a host of top musicians. Simply stunning!

Reader Comments

Posted by Theresa in Dublin @ 23:42 on Jun 13 2012

Brilliant! So refreshing to have a REAL good christian jazz album. Great review - spot-on with the "New Orleans jazz funeral procession"; thats exactly what I felt whilst listening to some of the tracks!:-)
Hard to say which track is my favourite, tho' I do like the rendition of Amazing Grace, plus I love the saxophone on 'I'll Wait and Pray'!



Posted by lydia in hackney @ 16:04 on Dec 19 2011

"Freedom Hymn" is the tops.

Why do previous comments not get shown.

More from Mark please



Posted by LYDIA in HACKNEY @ 14:14 on Dec 17 2011

Like best "How Great is Our God". Grew up atheist-church england disturbed no-WORD family. Later met socialists who taught me how God is not an individual man in the sky but the IDEA of community/humanity. Without a social conscience, church readings can sound like gobbly gook, esp eg story adam + eve, esp to women. Heard your "Pelican Rising" recently - so beautiful - keep re-playing as new things to hear each time I listen. The Pelican a symbol of sacrifice/regeneration, no? Hegel - a Lutheran preacher C18 germany as u prob know - used sthg like this as his method/path to social truth philosophy - he watched french rev over border + accepted it as human forces for more humanistic change. Link to pelicans rising re his phil method is that he conceives conscience as constant back/forth subject/object but instead of each cancelling each other out as in death/rebirth - he conceives a self-developing sediment remaining + ever deepening understanding. Your a star mark. Thanx so much 4 all the love + dedication u pour into your music making the world a more utopian place 4 us all. Hegel's absolutes move dep on social context as u do - it seems to me - in your music. All the best 2 u + best regards lydia. ps bryan spring's friend jenny told me about u. best regards



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