Gospel Jazz

7 MP3 Songs
GOSPEL: Contemporary Gospel, JAZZ: Smooth Jazz



Details:
The genesis of this recording began back in 1988. I had
enrolled at Kingsborough Community College(Brooklyn,N.Y.) to
make a second attempt at getting a college degree. I met a
young pianist, Joseph Roberts who was also at the school
working toward a degree.
Eventually, I learned that he and I were both Christians who shared an interest in a wide variety of music. As time progressed we developed a very good friendship and played music together on numerous occasions.
One June day in 1991, I visited his church and we
recorded some duets of us playing hymns using the piano and
saxophone. After the session I made a remark, something to the effect of "When I make my first recording, I hope that you would like to work with me." Joe said that he
would like that very much.
Fast forward ten years and remembering the statement I
had made at his church,I asked Joe if he would like to play
on a CD I wanted to make. The answer was still the same. I
told Joe about the idea that I had for the CD.
The idea was to record a series of hymns with different
instrumentation on each track over jazz harmonies. Each hynm
would be used as a vehicle for improvisation, as if it were
a jazz tune.
Hopefully you will be blessed by our efforts.


A little bit about me and Joe: I am a tenor saxophonist
who is currently teaching in the NYC Department of Education. I have experience playing in small jazz groups
(Bill Stevens Standard Time) and Big Band jazz groups(Jazz
Unlimited Orchestra,Tonal Artiste Orchestra in the New York
City area. I also write original jazz compositions which
will be recorded on my own label JJQ Records in the near
future. I currently play at First Church Of God, Far Rockaway in Queens N.Y. I am a native and current resident of Queens N.Y.

Joe Roberts is an excellent gospel pianist and has led
many church choirs in his native Brooklyn N.Y. He is currently the choir director of Universal Baptist Church in
Brooklyn N.Y.