Reviewed by Gareth Hills

Sometimes the simplest arrangements are all that's needed to get to the heart of a piece of music. By stripping back his band to a sparse trio of piano, bass, and saxophone, with drums on two tracks, Washington DC-based saxophonist Todd Ledbetter definitely gets a long way towards achieving his aim of creating "a musical tonic for the soul". While 'Meditations: Hymns In The Key Of Jazz' is not an album likely to be lauded by jazz purists for breaking any genre boundaries, it stands simply as a beautiful example of just how moving, and reflective, jazz can be when played by such gifted musicians. With a warm rounded tone which at times resembles the best work of Grover Washington Jr (a luminary with whom Todd has worked) the musical textures here remain evocative and never descend to the elevator music clichés of some pop jazz offerings. Particular standouts are the bluesy, lounge vibe of "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" and the squelchy Rhodes-drenched crossover reworking of "Steal Away" while the whole album works to create an atmosphere of reflection and meditation. The Church needs more music of this quality.

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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