John Tesh Albums (41)
'Alive: Music & Dance'
Release Date 3/4/2008
Tracks 12
Label Garden City
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What The Critics Say
Since emerging in the 1990s as an incredibly rhythmic and melodic composer and keyboardist (whose musical background included winning Emmys for sports themed music), John Tesh has made no bones about infusing his music with strong elements of his deep Christian faith. This disc, which is a companion soundtrack to a DVD of his hugely successful music and dance touring production, dramatically juxtapose elements of both. The massive production, which was inspired by the artist's sneak peak at his young daughter's dance lessons, features a cast of nearly a 100 kids between 13 and 21. His always prominent piano is backed by youthful solo singers, a choir, a full band, and a string section. What you can't experience on the CD alone are the powerful visuals of the young dancers, some performing ballet, others more contemporary hip-hop and lyrical styles. Musically, the 12 tracks tap into the many aspects of Tesh's expansive artistry, from his love for electronic based world music (the symphonic, richly percussive "Drumline," the Latin vocal-spiced "Canta Domine"), upbeat synth and electric guitar driven grooves ("Two Worlds"), and lush piano pieces ("Beginnings," "Garden City"). He saves his gospel/worship vibe for the last two tracks, a lively church choir rendition of Mary Mary's exuberant "Shackles" and a medley of "Awesome God," and Kirk Franklin's "He Reigns." While the music only tells half the story, the CD version of Alive: Music & Dance is not only a high-spirited concert experience but a powerful overview of the many musical faces of an amazing instrumental artist. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
'Grand Piano Christmas'
Release Date 1/1/2008
Tracks 11
Label Garden City
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'A Passionate Life'
Release Date 5/1/2007
Tracks 21
Label Garden City Music
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'Worship at Red Rocks'
Release Date 8/24/2004
Tracks 12
Label Garden City Music
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What The Critics Say
It used to be that Christian pop music could pretty much all be characterized quite fairly as wimpy and vapid. No more. Now it's as stylistically varied as pop music generally -- tune in to a Christian radio station and you'll hear crunk, screamo, garage, folk-rock, R&B, and ska all rubbing shoulders happily with each other as they work to spread the gospel message. And if the lyrics do still tend to be a bit obvious and sometimes downright silly, well, that's hardly less true of those produced by the secular pop world. John Tesh, who made his name as a TV personality before striking out on his own as a new age pianist and composer, has joined the new Christian pop brigade and now leads a muscular rock & roll band. This live set opens with a big, powerful gospel number titled "You Are Good," complete with massed voices and a big fat guitar solo, before lapsing into a cloying banality on "Above All" ("You took the fall," "There's no way to measure what you're worth," etc.). Tesh mutters almost inaudibly to the audience between several tracks, and a few are downright boring. But others show a surprising level of musical complexity -- "Lord Have Mercy" slyly invokes the Kyrie section of the Latin mass; "Open the Eyes of My Heart" starts off sounding like an inversion of Van Halen's 1980s hit "Jump." Fans and fellow believers will want to check out the companion DVD as well. Not bad at all. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
'A Deeper Faith, Vol. 2'
Release Date 9/9/2003
Tracks 17
Label Garden City Music
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'Worship Collection: Awesome God'
Release Date 1/28/2003
Tracks 11
Label Garden City Music
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'Christmas Worship'
Release Date 10/1/2002
Tracks 14
Label Word Entertainment
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What The Critics Say
An unabashedly big, sweeping tribute to the power of the holiday spirit, John Tesh's Christmas Worship plays like a new age/CCM hybrid, mixing synth-driven instrumentals like "Joy to the World" and original Christmas songs like "This Is Your Gift" and "Hungry," which are more ambitious -- and explicitly Christian -- than anything that appeared on Tesh's previous holiday albums. The involvement of CCM artists such as Rich Mullins, Matt Huesmann, and Kathryn Scott emphasizes the religious aspect of the album, particularly on Mullins' "Awesome God" and "We Fall Down." But even with this newfound focus, tracks such as "It Wouldn't Be Christmas (Without You)" still reflect the festive feel of the season and recall Romantic Christmas. For the most part, Christmas Worship works as an invitation to share the holiday with Tesh in a more intimate and spiritual way, although "God in the Stairwell," a recounting of the September 11, 2001, attacks from God's point of view, is awkwardly executed despite its good intentions. Still, renditions of "Silent Night," "Away in a Manger," and other carols round out the album pleasantly, bringing a festive warmth to Tesh's occasionally too-synthetic sounding style. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
'The Power of Love'
Release Date 6/4/2002
Tracks 26
Label Garden City Music
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What The Critics Say
It's way too hip for music reviewers to bash John Tesh simply because he's John Tesh, and a two-disc piano and orchestra rendering of 24 hit pop, Christian, and new age classics and two originals can easily bring out the wolves who want to snore and scream, "Muzak!" So let's acknowledge the bashability factor, but just try to appreciate this often beautiful double recording on its own terms. It's not groundbreaking, but it's truly crowd-pleasing, and that -- combined with great musicianship and simple yet effective arrangements -- is what a Tesh recording is all about. There are a few quiet passages but also a good deal of orchestral drama on pieces like "Song for Jennifer," the exotic, flute-driven "Desert Rose," and the sexy, Latin-breezing Kenny G tune "Havana." Tesh chooses interesting tunes in that he goes for more than the overplayed Top 40. The catalogs mined include an eclectic mix -- Steven Curtis Chapman, Yanni, Kitaro, Mannheim Steamroller, Jim Brickman, Enya, Loreena McKennitt, and George Winston. Gosh, Tesh doing Yanni, Winston, and Kenny G? The fun the critics will have! Tesh had to be winking at them as he was doing this. But the diversity is a definite progression from some of his other cover collections, which just include the tried and true. More importantly, his fans will be pleased, and it's likely that his detractors would smile here and there if they didn't know it was him. Wouldn't it be fun to win them over and then see how they react when they learn it's Tesh? The guy knows what his audience wants, is honest about it, and keeps on delivering. Darn listenable stuff sometimes, too. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The keyboardist composer so many just love to hate is actually much loved according to the sales figures of his many instrumental discs. This time out, he must figure everyone who listens will forgive him his musical trespasses, since he's aiming for the heart of contemporary Christian music with this solid and engaging worship CD. Tesh's light, sweeping music has always had a pleasant spirituality about it, but this is the first time he's come out and professed his Christian faith in a musical setting. The disc is a combination of worship songs sung by various men and women, featuring mostly up-tempo, guitar-driven productions; the one notable exception is the pretty ballad about the meaning of the experience, "The Heart of Worship." None of these renditions are any better or worse than a worship music fan might have heard on Michael W. Smith's worship disc or any of the WOW Worship samplers. But they are certainly likeable. Tesh adds two powerful instrumental tunes to the mix: the multi-movement "Monday's Mission" (which moves from a reflective orchestra into a feisty pop/rock jam) and the kindhearted piano solo title track. The only misfires are the handful of interludes which offer creepy vocalizations, spoken words, and oddball sounds that just distract from the heart of worship. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
'Classical Music for a Prayerful Mood'
Release Date 5/8/2001
Tracks 13
Label Faith M.D.
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