Billed as a "poignant new series of instrumental recordings featuring our most beloved hymns and sacred songs of our Savior Jesus Christ", My Redeemer Lives provides fresh arrangements to songs that we have come to know and love.

The musicians on the album, Todd McCabe on piano and April Moriarty on violin, are polished and talented, and their playing is a perfect complement to the other. The best thing about this CD is that the arrangements always take a little bit of a left turn at some point in the song or on a given note, so they aren't just the standard form written in the hymn book. This prevents each song from getting boring, or having songs fade together.

The fourth track is a medley of "Amazing Grace, As Now We Take the Sacrament, and How Great Thou Art". The "Amazing Grace" portion of the song is solo violin which is different from the majority of the CD and provides a good variation. The transitions between each song are seamless and provide a little room for embellishments of the songs.

"There Is A Green Hill Far Away" is a solemn and simple arrangement in perfect alignment with the tone and mood of the rest of the album. "Nearer, My God, To Thee" carries a bit quicker pace than the rest of the songs, and alternates between the piano and the violin playing the melody of the tune.

A favorite of the album is the lesser-known "Beautiful Savior" with solid piano playing and a weaving violin style which adds a certain energy and conviction to the piece.

In most of the tracks, the violin takes the lead melody while the piano plays a stunning background accompaniment. McCabe and Moriarty skillfully took the liberty to build on the foundational melody of each hymn to produce a peaceful combination of hymns. Each song is simple, yet complete. Additionally, the album's sound is consistent and flowing from one song to the next. Future CDs will certainly be looked forward to.

4 stars out of 5.
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Cory Reese

01. All Creatures Of Our God and King
02. I Need Thee Every Hour
03. Our Savior's Love
04. Amazing Grace/As Now We Take The Sacrament/How Great Thou Art
05. Beautiful Savior
06. Upon The Cross Of Calvary
07. In Humility, Our Savior/Jesus, Once Of Humble Birth
08. There Is A Green Hill Far Away
09. Nearer, My God, To Thee
10. While Of These Emblems We Partake
11. How Great The Wisdom And The Love
12. I Know That My Redeemer Lives
13. He Is Risen!
14. I Stand All Amazed