Hymns Instrumental

The orchestral works Passacaglia, Ritual and (K)ein sommernachtstraum are all very well-conducted and beautifully recorded on this CD (as usual with BIS-records). The Malmö symphony orchestra specialized in Schnittke during the 80's, and that can be heard here. There is a great understanding to the sometimes very odd music.

Professor Tip Top's (from Bergen, Norway) fifth album. They are a group playing fine progressive music with a retro sound greased with a lysergic touch which gives the songs a psychedelic aura. The songs are partly melodic, adding longer instrumental parts of guitar, analog sequencers, vintage synths and keyboards. Inspiration and influences are '60s/'70s Gong, Yes and Pink Floyd.

Don't expect too many surprises from Kirk Whalum's Hymns in the Garden if you're familiar with his previous few gospel-tinged albums like Unconditional and The Gospel According to Jazz. Like those two albums, Whalum goes out of his way to invest a considerable amount of spiritual sentiment into his candy-coated crossover jazz. On this particular album, the religious overtones come via the song titles, "I Will Trust in the Lord," "Christ Is All," and "I Want Jesus to Walk With Me" being three examples.