Rick Modlin

Nothing gets people in the Christmas spirit quite like hearing their favorite Christmas songs. We’ve put a new twist on the old standards in Joy to the World, a collection of traditional Christmas songs arranged and played in a jazz or jazz-influenced style.

Pianist Rick Modlin leads a group of talented musicians in jazzing up a number of well-known songs with instruments ranging from solo piano to seven-piece jazz ensemble. Upbeat and reflective, this music is sure to kick your Christmas spirit into high gear. It makes an excellent gift for jazz lovers of all ages.

High-energy hymns, psalms, spirituals and gospel-style songs
Graysons first collection in seven years provides 12 new hymns, psalms, spirituals and gospel-style songs. Marked by his distinctive passion and energy, the music encourages full participation by the faithful, whatever the setting.

Prayerful, Taizé-style chants
A mesmerizing Taizé-style song, Meditation uses a repeating refrainJesus, precious Saviorto lead worshipers into an ever-deepening place of prayer. Singing Shout Praise, an infectious gospel-style song, you cant help but do what it says: everybody clap your hands, lift high your voice and stand up and shout, let the world know you are saved.

Grand hymns, jazzy psalms
Especially appropriate for Easter season, the title track is a grand, traditional-style hymn, complete with parts for full choir, piano, brass, timpani and strings. An impressive horn sectionsaxophone, trumpet, tromboneand rock ensemble back the gospel choir on the jazzy Psalm 147/Alleluia.

Ethereal funeral music, classic gospel songs
Arranged for choir and organ, Song of Farewell is a breathtaking new setting for funeral liturgies. Everyone will recognize the classic gospel hymn Down by the Riverside and its familiar refrain, aint gonna study war no more. It appears here in a new arrangement by Rick Modlin.

Great for praise and prayer, retreats, missions and liturgy
Designed for use in praise and prayer, retreats, missions and liturgy, these songs offer a message of hope -- hope in Christ, the Morning Star, who has broken the darkness forever. Parish music directors, retreat directors, prayer groups and faith communities large and small will find something to use and love in Now That the Morning Has Broken the Darkness.