* 2008 Covenant Award Winner for Traditional Album of the Year

What you will find herein is a labor of love for myself and three close friends. Some time ago I came to be a worship pastor in a local church, and my fond memories of old hymns grew into a great love for these timeless melodies and words. I shared this growing affection for music much older than myself with Olaf Pyttlik, our producer who I knew had always envisioned a project like this one. Two very talented and passionate artists, Kevin Aichele and Nolan Balzer agreed to join us.

It's hard to describe the emotions that experience evoked, but I remember both laughing heartily, and being moved to tears as our hearts were stirred by these profound songs, and what I believe was the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst. "I'd Rather Have Jesus" was particularly profound and convicting for me, as it contains words that challenge me personally to choose Jesus over anything else this world has to offer. It was a great gift to me that I could sing, 'it's all that my hungering spirit needs', because that is the deep reality that I have experienced, and it's why I feel I can sing that song in spirit and truth.

Jon Buller

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less - Come Thou Fount - All Creatures of our God and King - Blessed Assurance - Great is Thy Faithfulness - The Old Rugged Cross - Trust and Obey - It Is Well With My Soul - My Jesus I Love Thee - Jesus, Priceless Treasure - Jesus Loves Even Me - I'd Rather Have Jesus - His Eye is on the Sparrow

"In The Hymn Project, we find what we badly need to find: skilful music and rich lyrics that can fill in the empty spaces left by so many of today's thin praise songs. What a high standard is set by these deceptively simple arrangements of classic hymns! Older Christians will rejoice to hear these good old hymns refreshed; middle-aged types (such as I) will be inspired by these clear declarations of the gospel; and younger listeners will perhaps finally realize why so many of us miss 'the old songs.' This really is an album for everyone."

John Stackhouse
http://stackblog.wordpress.com/