Pure Curry: Unique Jazz Settings of Favorite Hymns. - book review

American Music Teacher, June-July, 2003 by Steve Betts

by Craig Curry. Hal Leonard (7777 W. Bluemound Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53213-3400), 2002. 71 pp., $18.95. Early advanced.

In Pure Curry, Craig Curry has chosen ten sacred tunes and arranged them in a variety of jazz styles. Appropriate for the early advanced pianist, these arrangements would make excellent music for worship services open to jazz or for recitals.

The arrangements are fully notated, so they have the possibility of opening the world of jazz to classical pianists. Some arrangements include jazz solos, and since they are notated, they allow the classical pianist to study their construction. This will perhaps motivate novice jazz players to attempt their own improvised solos. Chord symbols also are included, allowing further harmony study. The chord symbols also allow for the possibility of the pianist to play with a rhythm section. Additionally, many arrangements would work well with a digital piano with the capability of adding rhythm backgrounds such as rock, samba and bossa nova.

Of the slower selections in the collection, Curry's ballad arrangement of Near to the Heart of God is my favorite. The lush harmonies are arranged in a pianistic way with judicious use of rolled chords. Also included in the collection are a samba arrangement of the hymn tune Love Divine, All Loves Excelling and an arrangement of the worship chorus Thou Art Worthy in bossa nova style. Curry admits that the gospel rock arrangement of Rock of Ages is a play on words, but the arrangement, though not easy, works well. Perhaps the most creative arrangement in the collection is the Afro-Cuban Joyful, Joyful. We Adore Thee.

While this collection will not be useful to all students, it can be appreciated by early advanced students wanting to learn more about jazz or for those pianists who use this style of music in their performance, whether in recital or in worship services. I especially relish the opportunity for my students to play with a rhythm section, and this collection provides a great chance for that to happen.

Steve Betts, Bethany, Oklahoma.