Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Hawaiian keyboard maestro John Tussey's independently recorded album more than adequately demonstrates his huge musical talent! But more than this this is an album which carries a serious anointing. King David played music to soothe Saul's rages and John is a spiritual descendent because the instrumental pieces here are both full of joy and full of peace. Occasionally he heads off into Richard Clayderman territory but I'll forgive him for that! The tunes are a mixture of his own original pieces and hymns and choruses that he has rearranged to suit his synthesiser and piano blend. It feels just like the sort of album I would normally dismiss as Christian bookshop muzak but there's something special going on here. His jaunty opener "Happy With You" with its jazzy feel and "Jazzy Joy" is more a walking blues with all the stops pulled out! Elsewhere his covers are well chosen: Craig Musseau's "Arms Of Love" has the ambience of something Tomita would have done yonks ago and Keith Routledge's "My Peace" leads into a whole sweep of Tussey original pieces that have a peaceful theme. The album closes with a couple of hymns that he has chosen to present on solo piano maintaining their venerable status and majesty and again proving what a fine piano player he is! Overall, John Tussey has managed to create many different musical flavours and textures to prevent this slipping into blandness and here are 20 instrumentals that are beautifully crafted.

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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