Jazz pianist looks to create album of LDS hymns

(Kurt Reeder)


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SALT LAKE CITY — For many missionaries serving for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, finding music to listen to that is both approved and entertaining is hard to do. Many LDS mission presidents allow missionaries musical access restricted to hymns of the church and primary children’s songs.

Kurt Reeder served a mission in Brazil and returned home in 2006. With a previous background in jazz piano, he longed for something to tune in to while he worked that had a little more of a beat to it.

“As a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we had many rules, rules put in place for our protection,” Reeder said. “One of those rules was that we only could listen to recordings of LDS hymns and primary songs.”

With his background in jazz, Reeder said he knew there had to be a way to listen to the required music and feed his need for syncopation and rhythm.

“I wished that there could have been an album of LDS hymns and primary songs recorded in a jazz style that I would have been allowed to listen to.”

Upon returning from Brazil, Reeder received a Bachelor's of Art degree from BYU in jazz studies.

Kurt Reeder practices the piano with his son.
Kurt Reeder practices the piano with his son.

While working on his Master’s degree at Cal State Fullerton, Reeder began to devise a way to join the music of his faith with the music of his studies; he has been working on piano arrangements of LDS hymns set to jazz rhythms.

“Ever since my mission I've dreamed of recording an album of such with arrangements that fit entirely into the jazz idiom,” Reeder said.

Reeder has been working on a jazz compilation of LDS hymns for seven years, since his return from Brazil. He has arranged nine songs so far using various jazz styles for piano trio (piano, bass, and drums), as well as salsa band and jazz big band.

He hopes to record an album of his arrangements, and is rounding up a group of prominent LDS jazz musicians to help him out.

“I came up with the idea of doing a high quality studio recording in Utah with all of the world-class LDS jazz musicians I had associated with up there (at BYU),” Reeder said.

Reeder hopes his arrangements will spark interest in the LDS church.

“I hope to make an album that non-LDS people would listen to for the music, but could serve a second role as music that would pique their interest in the church,” Reeder said.

The arrangements are taken from popular LDS hymns and primary songs. Reeder has two young children and he said his goal on this project is to create something his sons will want to listen to for many years.

“If all works out I can realize the vision I've had for the last seven years and make an artistic statement that I can be proud of,” Reeder said. “Hopefully it would be something my children will be proud of too, and that can uplift, inspire, and turn people on to the precepts of the LDS church.”

Reeder is raising money for this album through a Kickstarter fundraising page. For more information, visit his page here.


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