Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Calvin Jones was a Tennessee-based pianist who released a series of instrumental albums in the City Of Peace Instrumentals series. This one, released in 2000, even got some airplay on United Christian Broadcasters, no mean feat for an instrumental album. Calvin's compositions take in classical, electronic and jazz elements; there is a welcome guest appearance by the renowned Kerry Livgren offering some deft acoustic and electric guitars on some tracks; and there are even some snatches of vocals. But really, the emphasis is all on Jones' elegant but never florid piano. He never over embellishes the melodies with glissanda overkill and "Paradigm Shift" (inspired by Matthew 27:50-51); "Runnin' For The Prize" (1 Corinthians 9:24) and "Rebuilding The Walls" (Nehemiah 2:17) all stand out. On the sleeve Calvin states his attitude to instrumental music: "The language of music has a way of transcending human language and can convey what lyrics cannot express... In the many years since I've been playing the piano and composing it has always been my desire to do an album like this. There are always melodies cropping up that need a fuller arrangement than solo piano. My vision for 'Acoustic Passion' is to blend the piano acoustics of our classical forefathers with the energy and passion of contemporary sounds in a diversity of styles that begins to touch upon the wide range of experiences, emotions and memories we all share." I'd say to a greater extent he's succeeded.

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