Reviewed by Trevor Kirk

Believe it or not, Christian music and traditional jazz are not as far removed from each other as you may think. There’s been a tradition of gospel material in the repertoires of all sorts of ensembles going right back to the ‘20s, and even today many bands use spiritual and gospel material in their performances. This generously filled CD (15 tracks giving over an hour of playing time) includes hymnody (“Rock Of Ages”, “Near The Cross”, “How Great Thou Art”), old spirituals (“This Little Light Of Mine”, “Down By The Riverside”), as well as traditional New Orleans material. The line-up of Sonny’s band has all the instruments you’d expect: trumpet, clarinet, trombone, banjo, piano, bass and drums, and Terry Giles’ clarinet work is particularly impressive. Production is superb, with excellent stereo, and all the instruments are properly mixed and balanced. If traditional jazz is your thing, give yourself a treat by getting hold of this.

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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