Cory Henry was a longtime keyboardist for Texas jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy. This time, the artist literally takes us to church. Hence the unequivocal title of this fifth solo offering. After funk and R&B records, the organist immerses us in black spiritual music from every angle. It’s a celebration worthy of certain Black American churches that even White people attend because of the energy they exude.
If you’re viscerally allergic to the use of the words “God”, “Jesus” or “Lord”, it’s best to abstain.
At times gospel, at times blues, at times groove, the music of Cory Henry and the many vocalists who accompany him take us into a dancing spiritual ode that seeks to give hope to people experiencing hardship in this unequal and increasingly uncivilized country that is the United States in 2024. In the wake of the very painful presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, it’s true that listening to this record may emanate a little hope.
We’ll see what happens tonight, Friday September 28, in a free concert on the Scène TD at the Festival de Jazz, at 7:30pm. No doubt the keyboardist will be mixing music from this album with that from his previous ones.
One thing’s for sure: it’s going to be great, with or without God.
