Why do an album of hymns anyway?
The word comes from the Greek “hymnos,” a sacred song or poem. Since most everything having to do with the Christian church was translated through the Greeks, that’s why we call our church songs “hymns” now (our Jewish brothers and sisters call them “piyutim” and our Muslim family calls them “nasheeds”).
To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of the traditional Christian hymnal. It has always felt a little dry to me (but that’s just me). Most people seem to like music, but rarely has anyone seemed eager to make music while in a church pew. I always found that curious, especially in myself as a musician and singer.
So I wanted to give the old beleaguered hymns a second chance. Some of them had already come alive once I discovered gospel music – still the greatest sound on the planet to me. But I’m not a gospel singer – so what could I do?
“Jazz Hymns for Thanksgiving” was the clear answer. Reframing them in the idiom of jazz has removed the musty weight of “hymn” from their shoulders, allowing them to breathe once more as songs. I have always loved doing that on other projects – my catalogue includes reframes of everything from Glenn Miller to The Police to Led Zepplin — so this was a fun challenge. I gotta hand it to the musicians on the album – Micah Cadwell, Andy Eulau, Mike Hinton and Frankie Quinones – for making something so fresh out of something so old and stodgy.
The hymns we chose focus on family, gathering together, food and nature’s bounty – Thanksgiving!
And I am so thankful!
Peace, G
PS. Our follow up “Jazz Hymns” album drops March 22 – “In the Garden: Jazz Hymns for Easter!” It ain’t your grandma’s Easter, baby! (But she’ll still like it.) Hear the first single right now – “This is My Father’s World!”
