A beautiful tension

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Launch: Jesus: HIStory

Bianca Reynaud
Public relations assistant
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

The Promise and Avondale Jazz Ensemble masterfully fused rhythm and harmony at the launch of Jesus: HIStory in Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday (March 15). The ease at which the ensembles negotiated difficult chords and tight harmonies created a beautiful tension.

The Promise

The Promise centre stage at the launch of Jesus: HIStory. Credit: Tibi Soare.

Narration by The Promise artistic director Aleta King served as a thread between each of the songs, weaving together the story of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection.

Renowned multi-instrumentalist Adrian Cunningham added to the professionalism of the jazz ensemble—his twisting, tripling solos impressed. As did alto Emily Thomas, whose solos in “Jerusalem Blues,” “Gethsemane” and “Our Father” connected strongly with the audience.

The technical precision of the latter two set those songs apart. “Jerusalem Blues” and “You Must Be Born Again” showed the members of the jazz ensemble, particularly the seven-piece horn section, are worthy supporters of The Promise—they seem to hide a little behind their vocal collaborators but hold their own with Cunningham. “Oh How I Love Jesus” highlighted the soft strength of bassist Zac Passfield’s playing.

Some of the songs reveal more of their 1980s vintage than others, but the element of performance significantly adds to what the album offers. An air of celebration pervaded the launch—the audience applauded loud and long at its close.