This is one of the most beautiful jazz CDs that I have ever heard. I know that 'beautiful' and 'jazz' don't often go together, but in this case I can think of no other word to use. The Göta River Jazzmen have produced some memorable CDs in the past, and they have even produced a CD of gospel tunes before, so why is this one so special? Well, not only are the band truly inspired (and as it is a CD of hymns, dare one say by the Holy Spirit?), but the subject matter is entirely new. I defy you to find any of these tunes on anyone else's album.

I just can't stop playing the CD. Not only do I find the music fascinating and completely incapable of being anticipated, but the band is on its best form ever taking them from being one of Europe's best to one of the world's best. I know that I am waffling, but they have completely blown me away with this one. Today most 'pop' or 'rock' artists use only material they have penned themselves (it increases their income considerably); an unfortunate phenomena as 99.999% are incompetent in the art. Jazz, on the other hand, tends to rely on using the same 500 tunes in slightly different arrangements. I have been known to buy a jazz CD just to get a tune that I haven't heard before. This CD gives me 16 of them!

In earlier reviews I have described the bandsmen, so I won't go through that exercise again; but as a band, how best to describe them? Well, if Ken Colyer had retained the band he had in 1953 with Chris Barber, Monty Sunshine, Lonnie Donegan et al and matured it then this is what they would have sounded like I am sure. Each of the musos has the skill and talent to play solo when appropriate, but it is as a whole that they come together so well.