Congratulations to Steve Bell and Mike Janzen for winning at the Gospel Music Awards this past weekend!

Steve Bell won for Jazz/Blues Song of the Year – Embrace the Mystery. A song with only four lines of lyrics…. Congratulations also to Gord Johnson who wrote this song for Steve’s multi-nominated album Devotion. Produced in Vancouver by the legendary Roy Salmond, Devotion is a surprising collection of rich and thoughtful worship music drawn from Scriptures, the Liturgy and inspired, in part, by the tradition of Taize.  Steve was unable to attend the award ceremony, as he was on tour in British Columbia, Canada.

Embrace the Mystery

Behold what you are

Become what you receive

Take up the bread and wine

Embrace the mystery

Listen to the song here…

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Mike Janzen

Mike Janzen won for Jazz/Blues Album of the Year – Mombacho.

Steve Bell says,  ”This CD firmly establishes that part of the “essence of Mike” is the tremendous jazz writer, stylist and band leader he is. Deeply embedded in this excellent collection of (mostly) original songs are Mike’s reverence, humour, compassion and joy. His is a rare and infectious gift.”

Coincidentally, the week Mike’s Mombacho wins the award, this wonderful review of the album appears in Britain’s Cross Rhythms E-Zine:

“Lighting up an organ like something else is Toronto-based composer and writer Mike Janzen backed by George Koller on bass accompanied by one from a variety of percussionists thus making a trio. The core three performers are bolstered further at times by a few other contributors in the shape of some ambient saxophone in “Beauty” and “Swankometer” to a little electric guitar in “Trail Runner”. It isn’t until five tracks in until that we get to hear the voice of Mike as predominately this is an album of pure musicianship and may I add, at its best. In fact it is only during “Masaya” and “All The Diamonds” later in the album that any vocals accompany the trio. It is somewhat of a pity as his voice has such a rich texture, complementing so well. Most of the songs here are penned by Mike himself but he also finds time to add some personal flair to “All The Diamonds” by Bruce Cockburn, Coldplay’s “God Put A Smile On My Face” which works fantastically, with the trio also putting a classy twist on Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs Robinson”. Each member gets many a moment of showcasing along the way with the drummer enjoying plenty of rolls and fills in “Trail Runner” and “Almost Tango”, over seven minutes of intensely funk filled jazz. A personal highlight is the serene “Where It Goes” when I find myself submersed, I can’t help but sit back and appreciate.”

Reviewed by Aaron Ferris

• Follow this link to listen to music from Mombacho…

• Mike’s Video on Youtube “Janzen’s Jazz”

• Here’s a link to view the winners of all the categories at the GMA’s - including  Fresh I. E.’s two wins

• Click Artist’s names to read album reviews in  Britain’s Cross Rhythms E-Zine: Steve Bell, Carolyn Arends, Kerri Woelke, Fergus Marsh, Jacob Moon, Gayle Salmond

by Signpost Staff, Faye Hall