I just added a couple of takes to my jazz page from a recent recording session with my friend Paul Lesinski. They are, in fact, the only takes, as we didn’t have much time. It’s fun to see what can come out of such a session. You get the raw edge, the creativity of just two musicians working through head arrangements of two beloved gospel tunes, seeing what can be done with them and having fun doing it. Paul made the job easy. He’s such a great player!

My favorite is “Amazing Grace.” It has a really joyous, fatissimo sound that captures the spirit of New Orleans. “Amazing Grace” was the song I played 30 years ago when I was requested, quite spontaneously and unexpectedly, to play a selection just minutes after my baptism at the black Pentecostal church I’d been attending as a brand-new Christian. I played the tune by default that day because it was the only gospel tune I knew; today I play it and love it because I’ve lived it, and God has worked it into my soul by experience.

“Sanctuary” is a very simple, beautiful old tune. I overplayed on this take–a fault of mine when I’m playing tunes with a slower harmonic motion–but the song has some  nice moments in it to compensate. I particularly like its energy toward the end.

I hope you like the samples!