Reviewed by Norman Smith

Jazz lovers everywhere will probably welcome this polished attempt by Kunle Ajayi to adapt well known and loved worship songs and hymns to the jazz genre. A finer saxophone player you will probably not encounter and a more positive opening to a review will be hard to track down! Before we get carried away though, it doesn't take long to realise that the major downside of this sort of attempt is its insistence in remaining instrumental. Well produced though it is, 'In His Presence' ends up as an easy listening, undemanding treatment and somehow ancient classics such as "Blessed Assurance" and modern fave "Lord I Lift Your Name On High" deserve more: namely a) passion and b) vocal declarations of praise to the Son of God. A vocalist or two on this collection would improve matters, but as it is, one can't help feeling this will be consigned to the cozy background music territory of Christian bookshops and coffee bars. Still. Kenny G has shown that there is a huge sax jazz instrumental market out there somewhere...maybe Kunle A will find it.

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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