Reviewed by Andy Long

Give this CD a spin without reading the liner notes and you might be forgiven for thinking that it was another collection of well known hymns given a contemporary jazz twist. Closer inspection will reveal something very special indeed, because, apart from percussion and some string parts, all the "instruments" are actually bass guitar. Thanks to a midi pick-up fitted to his six-string Yamaha bass, Todd is able to faithfully reproduce the sound of almost any instrument you can name. Of course, you might say anybody could fit a midi pick-up to a bass and do that. You'd be wrong! Todd¹s gift as an arranger gives him an ear that is able to hear what those individual instruments should be playing within the structure of the piece. The jazz guitar sounds on "At The Cross" are a joy and the Hammond organ chords on "Soon And Very Soon" are sublime. I could go on but space forbids. Suffice it to say that "A Solo Offering" is shaping up to be one of the most musically accomplished jazz albums of the year and just you wait till you hear "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic"!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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