Credits Go To: diverse379
I never reviewed a CD before but I couldn’t resist.
I was scrolling through yahoo looking for some examples of ‘Guide me oh great Jehovah’ and I was disappointed because you know how it is all the don marsh type stuff is just not how we do it; na mean?
But, then I saw the James Abington album ‘49 hidden treasures in the African American hymnal’ and I began playing it and was elated to hear
all the diversity you know i love diversity why else is my tag name diverse
I know some of you think it is after the stupid organ well it ain’t; but anyway…
This album takes you to school on how to play hymns for real. Where was this CD when I first started 6 years ago it would have saved me so much grief? But, I won’t cry over spilled milk.
The tracks range from spirituals, anthems and chicken and grits down home gospel. This is straight traditional high church stuff so don’t expect to hear any Donald Lawrence type changes. This is very straight classically trained musician stuff; but the advantage of this album, which has over forty tracks,
is that you can pick this up by ear and if you have the hymn book it can be a guide how to dress up a hymn you cant go wrong if you can play like this unless you go to a store front church then you might get tossed out on your ear playing like this.
Check this album out if you really want to learn how to play hymns in the African American tradition then you owe it to yourself to cop this. You’ll hear James get down on piano, Hammond and pipe organ.
This is the type of album that you just let play and attempt to play along. I guarantee if you do it every day you will begin to really capture the feel of the songs and styles of this great African American work.
This is high church stuff so it may not appeal to everyone; but if you go to a Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian, Lutheran or even many sophisticated Cogic and non-denominational churches where they do hymns then this CD is for you.
Some of the titles are:
‘The angels keep watching over me’ (he plays this on piano real old school Baptist style)
‘Guide me oh great Jehovah’ (is done on pipe organ and the way he interacts with the choir is awesome)
All of these tracks are with full choirs so you can teach your choirs directly and of course all the sheet music is contained in the hymn book
Some other titles are:
‘Day and night praise’ (which is an awesome worship song great for your worship service)
‘Hallelujah we sing’ which is an a cappella spiritual with congas in the background
I am really happy I discovered this album; this is exactly what I needed to energize my church. If your church is in a rut singing the same 30 songs year after year or if you playing is in a rut playing the same changes over every hymn then this is for you learn some high church hymns and arrangements. It will stretch your ears even if you don’t like playing high church style. It is nice to be able to do it; it could make for a nice departure within your phat contemporary chords
And if you want to learn a little more about how to play pipe organ, then you definitely need to purchase this because James Abington really plays this pipe organ. I love the interludes in between the songs.
