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Jay Hoggard: Raise Your Spirit Consciousness Album Review

 


    American jazz vibraphonist and composer Jay Hoggard is raising the spiritual consciousness with songs such as; Holy Spirit Consciousness, Peace To You My Children, Worship God in Spirit Truth and Love on Raise Your Spirit Consciousness album. 

Raise your spirit consciousness has eight original compositions from Hoggard as well as recreations of original classics by Wayne Shorter, Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder and Thad Jones. Hoggard has played with other jazz vibraphonists throughout his career such as; Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton, and Tito Puente. 

"Holy Spirit Consciousness" has a jazz funk intro that leads into a spirit filled praise groove. Affirming with an Amen from Hoggard at the end of the song. "Peace To You My Children"enters with a  high energy drum riff that leads into a soprano saxophone collaboration with the vibraphones which is electrifying.  Nat Adderly Jr. has a beautiful piano solo. Ends with a bang! "A Child is Born" is an original composition pf American Jazz trumpeter, composer and bandleader  Thad Jones.  Hoggard dedicates this splendid ballet rendition to his grandson. "Bird of Beauty" an original of American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder,  has a rumba style rhythm with soft piano and soprano solos.  Hoggard on the vibraphone delivers splendidly with the classic melody. "Worship God in Spirit Truth and Love" is a beautiful song, describes love through music as sound meditation.  "I Want Love, I Don’t Want Hate" has reggae rhythms connecting with Hoggard’s vibraphone playing  that resonates with only love. "In The Beginning / Praise God" an original song of Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts is smooth and cool jazz with Afro-Cuban rhythms. "Deluge" is beautifully performed by Hoggard and his ensemble. It is an original composition by Wayne Shorter featuring piano and organ solos by Nat Adderly Jr. and James Weidman. 


Track Listing:

Holy Spirit Consciousness; Peace To You My Children; A Child Is Born; Bird of Beauty; Worship God In Spirit Truth and Love; I Want Love, I Don't Want Hate; In TheBeginning / Praise God; Deluge.


Personnel: 

Jay Hoggard: Vibraphone, Dwight Andrews: Saxophone, soprano, Nat Adderly Jr: piano. James Weidman: piano, Pheeroan Aklaff: drums, Kenny Davis: bass, acoustic    


Album Information

Title: Raise Your Spirit Consciousness 

Year Released: 2023

Record Label: JHVM



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