Pete Malinverni follows jazz greats like Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck by devoting an entire release to original sacred music, though Malinverni's extensive background as both a jazz musician and a minister of music gives him a few additional advantages. First of all, the pianist is working with his own regular choir (plus a few guests), while his musicians include alto saxophonist Steve Wilson, trumpeter/flügelhornist Joe Magnarelli, bassist Todd Coolman, and drummer Dwayne "Cook" Broadnax, all of whom shine. Malinverni's dream was to blend his love for jazz and church music in such a project, and the unique character of the ArtistShare label made this limited-edition release financially feasible. Malinverni's music and his lyrical adaptations of verses from the Psalms never come across as bombastic, letting the text speak for itself, whether sung by the soloists or narrated by the church's pastor, Reverend Frederick C. Ennette, Sr., with an unmistakable gospel influence throughout the work. Recorded live, the sound is beautifully recorded, with a bonus DVD documentary that includes video footage of the performance and interview excerpts.
© Ken Dryden /TiVo