John Moulder

In some ways in a similar vein as Duke Ellington's Sacred Music, John Moulder here creates a set of his own inspirational jazz. The performances are exquisite, with sensitive performances on all instruments. The mood is contemplative, meditative, as one would probably expect. Moulder's guitar strums out only what it needs to, with Laurence Hobgood's piano in tandem. Others often take on the temporary role of lead, with a soft run on the trumpet or sax playing out the main melody. The compositions are careful, tentative, but almost more literal than one would expect in the jazz world. "Chaos," the opening track, builds from a quiet nothingness (primordially) to a clashing finish. "Creation" builds methodically, with what seem to be references to 2001: A Space Odyssey and the moment of the monolith. "Incarnation" is particularly gentle, but with a touch of sadness. "Resurrection" involves a Weather Report-like buildup, with cheer and power intertwined. It's a fine album musically, but almost exactly what one might expect if told only that it was inspirational jazz. ~ Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide