The idea of making this album came about after I was commissioned to arrange some traditional hymns and spirituals for solo piano. I was asked to keep the arrangements simple and not technically demanding, while adopting my own restraints to arranging the selections in order to preserve the inherent simplicity of these beautiful hymns and spirituals

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

An improvised introduction and ending to George Gershwin's clasic, Embraceable You. Trio section has been omitted to reduce file size. Recorded live at the Weimar Room, Adelaide, South Australia.

Embraceable You - Live Improvisation (AUS)

When walking out onstage to commence this concert, I unbuttoned my jacket and the button broke off and rolled clear across the floor. I had decided the selections and sets for the trio were to be unprepared for this performance and we would just choose tunes we felt like playing as we progressed through the concert. So when the button broke off at the top of the show, we just started with this improvised blues and affectionately titled it, "Broken Button Blues." 

Broken Button Blues - Live At La Grande Hall (USA)

Enjoy this rehearsal track of the Kym Purling Jazz Orchestra, KPJO.

kympurling