{"title":"Gwen Hughes","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs Grady Harp writes on Amazon Music: “Not only does Gwen Hughes have an exceptional voice by anybody’s standards, but she surpasses that magnificent gift with the manner in which she makes her terrific songs communicate.” Gwen has produced music with adiverse set of artists, from John Driskell Hopkins (The Zac Brown Band) to Danny Kopelson (BlueNote Records) to Kabir Sehgal (2024 Grammy winner for President Jimmy Carter’s “Last Sundaysin Plains”).“I love to write songs,” says Gwen, “but my favorite challenge is taking a song everyone knows one way and presenting it another way, deconstructing and rebuilding it.” Her newest releases, the Jazz Hymn projects, showcase this desire to reinvent classic church hymns in the jazz framework. The hymns become bossa novas ,“This is My Father’s World” (In the Garden:Jazz Hymns for Easter); uptempo swing, “Now Thank We All Our God” (We Gather Together: JazzHymns for Thanksgiving) and even a surprising vocal-upright bass duet on “Doxology” (also Thanksgiving).  The newest member of the Jazz Hymns trilogy is THE FIRST NOEL:  JAZZ HYMNS FOR CHRISTMAS, with gorgeous reframings of holiday folk songs and hymns.“We made a film about the “why hymns?,” because they aren’t the first thing that comes to mind for a jazz project,” smiles Gwen. Her show, JAZZ OF THE SOUL, folds a few hymns into a broader set list highlighting the “joyful” side of jazz, soul and gospel music. As she says, “No preaching. Just music to make you feel good.”Gwen Hughes has toured 15 countries all over the world, from Paris to Nairobi. The  Ambassador to Slovenia, Joseph Mussomeli, proclaims: “As a performer and a person, Gwen is a delight, and the music that pours from her band is stirring and refreshing.” The USState Department sponsored two tours of the band through Eastern Europe.As an actor, Gwen can be seen in Donald Glover’s “Atlanta,” as well as appearances on“Hightown” (Starz), “Stand Against Evil” (IFC) and “My Wife’s Hidden Lover” (Lifetime) plus several Tyler Perry projects. Upcoming appearances include “Tulsa King” (Paramount+) and the critically-acclaimed independent film, “Bruton.”Gwen was cast in the Alliance Theatre production of Stephen King and John Mellencamp’s Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, with music production by T-Bone Burnette. The show subsequently toured nationally for 2 years.Offstage: a 10-year Board Governor with The Recording Academy, a Johnny Mercer “Artist in Residence” with the GA Music Hall of Fame and instructor for The Otis Redding Songwriting Camp.  Gwen is passionate about music education and has held workshops globally,teaching students of all ages in the US, Morocco, Kenya, Slovenia, and France.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"gwen-f-hughes-we-gather-together-jazz-hymns-for-thanksgiving-cd","title":"Gwen Hughes - WE GATHER TOGETHER: JAZZ HYMNS FOR THANKSGIVING (CD)","description":"A warm and inviting collection of songs about family, food and nature's bounty - all the themes of Thanksgiving. Includes familiar hymns like \"All Creatures of Our God and King,\" as well as lesser known hymns like \"Come and Dine.\"","brand":"Fairfield","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53081719603493,"sku":"195269430726","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0758\/1250\/3845\/files\/final_cover_1600x16001-1.png?v=1786372831"},{"product_id":"gwen-hughes-in-the-garden-jazz-hymns-for-easter-cd","title":"Gwen Hughes - IN THE GARDEN: JAZZ HYMNS FOR EASTER (CD)","description":"Adventurous reframes of classic church hymns - take, for instance, the bluesy piano that opens the CD on \"Risen Today.\"  But then the music becomes lush, with flowing, open journeys through \"This is My Father's World\" and \"Wonderful Words of Life.\" \r\n\r\nMusic to be enjoyed as jazz expression and a statement of the power of the new life and love exemplified by the season of Easter.","brand":"Fairfield","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53569712226597,"sku":"195269430719","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0758\/1250\/3845\/files\/In-the-Garden-1-scaled.jpg?v=1786373447"},{"product_id":"gwen-hughes-the-first-noel-jazz-hymns-for-christmas-cd","title":"Gwen Hughes - THE FIRST NOEL: JAZZ HYMNS FOR CHRISTMAS (CD)","description":"Uncommon reworkings of holiday folk songs and hymns.  Some well-known  (\"Joy to the World\") and some more obscure (the Welsh folk tune, \"All Through the Night\").  \r\n\r\nThe music is an open exploration of jazz in several different settings, ranging from the beautiful piano of Randy Hoexter and Tyrone Jackson, to the lyrical guitar work of Micah Cadwell.  Gwen Hughes' distinctive vocals anchor each tune in the album's wide journey of expression. \r\n\r\nAlso included is the jazz standard, \"A Child is Born,\" produced in Nashville by Max Brown, guitarist for THE WAR AND TREATY.  Absolutely gorgeous steel guitar work from Phil Bronchtein, a mainstay at the Grand Ol' Opry.\r\n\r\nThis album stands as a testament of the love and faith of the Christmas season as well as a superior, unique musical experience.  ","brand":"Fairfield","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53569744142629,"sku":"195269427894","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0758\/1250\/3845\/files\/cover_3000x3000-1-scaled.jpg?v=1786374145"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0758\/1250\/3845\/collections\/cover_3000x3000-1-scaled_eb659129-6daa-431f-92f2-02820455a815.jpg?v=1787174172","url":"https:\/\/store.spinneymedia.com\/collections\/gwen-hughes.oembed","provider":"Spinney Media","version":"1.0","type":"link"}