John Cooper Jazz Orchestra The Baecker Jazz Worship Service Independent Various 12-25-2007

SCORE 89%

The Baecker Jazz Worship Service covers seven movements of jazz music correlating to the traditional movements of a worship service: Prelude, Gospel, Hymn, Offertory, Communion, and a Doxology. A great concept, and well executed.

The first track, “In The Beginning,” exploring the work of creation, features a hushed airy opening that moves suddenly, after the command ‘let there be light!’, into a cacophony of brass, strings and percussion, before easing back into a soothing closing. It’s got a great underlying swing feel and feels quite on target expressively, considering its theme. “Gospel: John 21” captures a more celebratory feel, with its upbeat melody line underscoring the dynamic reading of the passage, drums splashing wildly beneath.

The next track of note is the joyful “Offertory,” a sizzling trumpet flying over solid Dixie rhythms. I loved the simple but moving worship of “Doxology,” DaNita Bell’s lovely vocal accompanied by a reverent trumpet. An emotive piano opens standout track “Communion (And Now You’re Gone)” before moving into fuller instrumentation. Thick horns lay down an evocative foundation which builds slowly into a warm crescendo of expressive awe. You don’t have to like jazz to be impacted by the emotive power of this potent track. As it happens, I love jazz and couldn’t get enough of this intelligent composition.

The Baecker Jazz Worship Service closes out perfectly with the bouncy “This Little Light of Mine,” plenty of delightful trumpet acrobatics over DaNita Bell’s warm vocals. I wish there were more artists exploring worship in jazz forms, but John Cooper and his mighty orchestra have made a solid start.