Reviewed by Paul Obrey

I must admit the alarm bells did start ringing when I opened this package. Here we go again. "21 best-loved hymn melodies on solo piano," the sleeve said. "21 old hymn tunes played by a one-pawed badger on a Casio home keyboard with the auto-accompaniment switched on," I thought. And who is Bernhard Herms anyway? Well, I couldn't have been much more wrong. Bernhard is a young, very talented and respected pianist who has composed and plays excellent arrangements to some old tunes, such as "Be Still And Know" and "Abide With Me". You can actually feel the musicianship in the playing, although very simply with no other instruments involved, and it goes to make a very pleasing, relaxing and meditational soft sound. Why can't all instrumentals be like this, rather than lift music? In the words of The Fast Show - Mmmm, jazz. Nice.

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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