Songs of Spiritual Love

Songs Of Spiritual Love (2004) is a set of vibraphone-organ/piano duets by Hoggard and James Weidman in which they explore the African American sacred musical vocabulary. “Since I grew up in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, I am hard wired for these melodies which are second nature for me.” The emotional versions of such songs as “Lift Every Voice And Sing,” John Coltrane’s “Dear Lord,” “His Eye Is On The Sparrow,” and “The Lord’s Prayer” are very respectful but also full of exciting melodic improvisations. Especially memorable is a rendition of Hoggard’s best known melody, “God Will Guide.”