Gospel Improv is my newest collection of jazz hymn arrangements, released in the fall of 2005. As the inside cover states, "Gospel Improv is designed to give a new musical 'twist' to twelve tried and true gospel melodies....Each arrangement begins with a rather straight version of each tune, followed by a 'transcribed improvisation' intended to help familiarize beginning 'improvisers' with some of the sounds, scales, 'licks' and chord voicings used in improvisation." This is my first complete piano collection to be published by Word, and I have been really pleased with the positive comments I have received to it via emails. At this time there is no recording available, so you'll just have to pay close attention to the performance notes in the book! These arrangements are written to work with solo piano, but the chord symbols are included if you'd like to add rhythm section. An article I wrote on "The Art of Improvisation" is included in the book.

The individual titles are (in order):

O How I Love Jesus (medium gospel waltz)
Sing Jesus Came into My Heart (up-tempo New Orleans funk)
My Faith Looks Up to Thee (ballad)
My Savior's Love (medium gospel shuffle)
His Eye Is on the Sparrow (ballad)
Jesus Is All the World to Me (samba)
'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus (up-tempo waltz)
Trust and Obey (up-tempo New Orleans funk)
When We All Get to Heaven (ballad)
This Little Light of Mine (classical/gospel)
Nothing But the Blood (up-tempo gospel)
At Calvary (bossa nova)

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