Liner Notes
Gospel Translated Into Jazz
As a child, I will never forget the first time I heard Mahalia Jackson sing “Amazing Grace.” Raised in the church and shaped by a life of worship that carried me from sanctuary to sanctuary, this hymn became a constant companion of my faith. Yet through Mahalia’s voice, I encountered more than melody—I heard theology sung aloud. I heard the testimony of believers who knew what it meant to be redeemed, sustained, and kept by the grace of God.
Gospel music is proclamation. It tells the story of God’s enduring love revealed through suffering, deliverance, and hope. It speaks of repentance and renewal, of dying to self and being raised to new life. Gospel does not shy away from life’s broken places; rather, it names them honestly while pointing steadfastly toward salvation. In this way, gospel music becomes lived theology—a confession of faith, a declaration of victory, and a witness to God’s unfailing mercy.
It is striking that gospel and jazz—two traditions born from the same historical soil and spiritual longing—have so often walked parallel paths rather than fully embracing one another. Both are rooted in lament and praise, discipline, and freedom. When John Coltrane was asked about the inspiration behind A Love Supreme, his response was simply, “God.” That statement affirms what jazz has always proclaimed: that God’s love is supreme, transformative, and worthy of continual praise.
This project seeks to reunite jazz and gospel in a sacred conversation long overdue. When jazz takes its seat and gospel joins beside it, what unfolds is more than collaboration—it is spiritual fellowship. Jazz brings reflection, searching, and honest inquiry; gospel brings proclamation, assurance, and praise. Together, they testify to a God who meets us in both the question and the answer.
To witness this conversation is to be drawn into a deeper encounter with the divine. It stirs the soul, engages the spirit, and awakens the full range of human emotion—joy, sorrow, longing, and hope. This music invites the listener not merely to hear, but to believe; not only to feel, but to remember that grace is still amazing, love is still supreme, and salvation is still at work among us.
Stephen Randle, Producer