1. Hallelujah Time 5:21
2. They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love 5:26
3. Wade In The Water 6:19
4. What A Friend We Have In Jesus 5:35
5. Christ The Lord Is Risen Today 4:59
6. Swingin' The Praise 3:28
7. Day By Day 5:27
8. Who Is An Overcomer? 3:23
9. Down By The Riverside 6:12
10. Great Is Thy Faithfulness 3:28
11. In The Garden 3:07
12. Jesus, Our Lord, My King 3:32
13. Jubilation 3:58
14. Above The Bright Blue 3:07
15. This Is My Father's World 4:35
16. I'll Fly Away 4:17

Total Program: 72:16

Swingin' The Praise

Swingin' The Praise brings together jazz, gospel, familiar spirituals and beloved hymns in an uplifting and inspirational way that will bring a smile to your face, buoy your spirit and keep your toes tapping! Swingin' The Praise is Paul's 2009 collaboration with his close friend, pianist Steve Richko. Here, Paul and Steve lead a quintet featuring guitarist Randy Napoleon, saxophonist Ben Jansson and drummer Sean Dobbins as they swing their praises to God for his many blessings.

Swingin' The Praise is loaded with fun, new arrangements by Paul and Steve of well-known sacred songs and jazz influenced tunes that convey a spirit of gratefulness. Paul, Steve, Ben, Randy and Sean are old friends who have played together for many years and their happy attitude reflecting the joy of playing jazz is evident throughout Swingin' The Praise. They have a ball as they romp through these good old church tunes with their chops flying everywhere!

Ben Jansson brings fire, freedom and friendliness to this session. His sound is rich, warm and passionate. Ben's tenor sax style honors his traditional jazz heroes Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Ben Webster and Lester Young yet his modern sensibilities keep him on the cutting edge of today's music.

Randy Napoleon is well known for his work with the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, The Benny Green Trio, vocal superstar Michael Buble and pianist/vocalist Freddie Cole (brother of Nat King Cole). Sean Dobbins pedigree includes world tours with Cyrus Chestnut and Johnny O'Neal as well as numerous performances with David "Fathead" Newman, Sonny Fortune and Jon Hendricks. Sean gives Swingin' The Praise an energy and life that is consistent with the CD's theme of joyful thanks to and glorification of Almighty God.

Swingin' The Praise is recorded in fantastic audio clarity by Robert Martens at Solid Sound Recording Studios. Solid Sound has a beautiful Yamaha grand piano and only the finest microphones and equipment. Rob Martens is the best at what he does and he knows Paul's sound and style. This CD was mastered by Rob's right-hand-man Eric Wojahn. Rob, Eric and Paul have worked together on many CD projects over the years and they have distilled their recording and post-production process to fine art. They share a commitment to the music and to the highest quality production values.

Swingin' the Praise not only sounds great but also looks great! Graphic designer Cheryl Miller has created a splendid, artistic CD package that features excellent photography by Paul's dear friend John Lilley. Michael Tanner and Sue Gillis of World Class Tapes provided technical support and assistance in the final production of this CD. Executive producers Denny, Marilyn and Brett Boneck have worked together with Paul on clarinetist Chuck Hedges' 2007 PKO Records CD Sweet And Lovely as well as Keller's More Christmas Songs For Jazz Lovers and The Michigan Jazz Suite. The long-term relationships and dedication to excellence of the Bonecks, Rob, Eric, Cheryl, Michael, Sue, John, Paul, Steve, Randy, Ben and Sean all combine to make Swingin' The Praise one of PKO Records best CDs to date!

1. Hallelujah Time is Oscar Peterson's up tempo anthem of thanksgiving that was covered in the late 1960s by Woody Herman and His Thundering Herd. Here the Keller/Richko Quintet wail away at top speed, culminating with two final, exciting shout choruses specially Keller-ized for this recording.

2. Paul recalls singing They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love around the campfire at Wesley Woods church camp as a kid. However, this version sounds quite different than those pensive, evening vespers sing-a-longs from yesteryear. Be prepared for some high-spirited bashing and crashing!

3. Wade In The Water is a traditional African/American spiritual that was made famous by the Ramsey Lewis Trio in the 1960s. Keller and Richko's arrangement takes a new look at this good old good one.

4. What A Friend We Have In Jesus is about as traditional a hymn as you'll ever find. What a fun, swinging arrangement for piano, guitar and bass trio in the style of the old Nat King Cole Trio!

5. More Nat King Cole Trio influence shows up on Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, a well-known hymn straight out of the United Methodist Hymnal.

6. Swingin' The Praise is Paul's original composition inspired by Psalm 150, which Paul calls "the musicians' Psalm". Here the piano, bass, drums trio delivers a short but powerful declaration.

7. Day By Day is from the 1970s off-Broadway musical Godspell. Ben Jansson plays a beautiful clarinet solo on this track which is followed by equally personal affirmations from Keller and Richko.

8. Co-Executive Producer Brett Boneck wrote the words and music for Who Is An Overcomer?, a song which asks and answers the questions of eternal life.

9. Another traditional African/American spiritual, Down By The Riverside, has a great ensemble sound, nostalgic imagery and an important message of peace and reconciliation. This is a real hand-clapper!

10. Great Is Thy Faithfulness is Paul's all-time favorite hymn. This reflective duet is performed reverently by Paul on bowed string bass along with elegant piano accompaniment from Steve.

11. The arrangement for In The Garden was inspired by Ahmad Jamal's and Red Garland's trio versions of the old American folk song Billy Boy. Sean Dobbins fills and solos with wire brushes and gives a tip of the hat to drummers Vernel Fournier and "Philly" Joe Jones.

13. Jubilation is a standard jazz tune composed by pianist Junior Mance in 1956. Check out the sweet improvised solos by Randy and Ben and the nifty Keller shout chorus near the end.

14. Above The Bright Blue is THE favorite hymn of Paul's grandmother Twila Knoblauch AND his great-grandmother Hazel Shoup. When Paul's extended family gathered in December, 2008 at the United Methodist Church of Morenci, MI, to celebrate Twila's 90th birthday, all 35 family members stood up and sang a special version of Above The Bright Blue to Twila as she sat listening and smiling in the front pew. Paul joined in on string bass and Paul's mother Patricia Keller accompanied on piano. What a magnificent moment! That moment is recreated here with a moving duet performance by Paul and Steve.

15. This Is My Father's World is a tune that Paul has performed in church worship services for many years. This arrangement features an Ahmad Jamal-esque beat and fine solos from Ben, Paul and Steve.

16. I'll Fly Away is one of the all-time greatest gospel songs written in 1929 by Alfred Brumley. It is known and loved by everyone and tells a story of hope, faith and life after death. From beginning to end, I'll Fly Away grooves along with a happy, New Orleans street beat feel. The tambourine adds that special "churchy" sound inviting you to clap yo' hands and sing along at the top of your lungs!