Books

Just a Closer Walk: 8 American Hymns for Piano in Jazz Style

This is an exciting collection of great American hymns written in authentic jazz piano style from stride to modern. The arrangements honor the integrity of the original worship setting. Simple but very musical and enjoyable for both listening and playing. While this collection may appear to be simple, it is anything but that. You will find that if you take extra time in rehearsing these selections, subtleties will reveal themselves.

Tune List:
  • Just a Closer Walk with Thee
  • Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
  • What a Friend We Have in Jesus
  • Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
  • Abide with Me
  • Christians, We Have Met to Worship
  • Blest Be the Tie That Binds
  • Jerusalem, My Happy Home
Jazz in the Sanctuary: Sing / Play Along with the Chuck Marohnic Trio

Music Serving the Word Ministries is proud to offer this play-along CD and booklet as an opportunity to demonstrate how jazz can be used in the worship experience, and teach you how to do it yourself!

How to Use the Play-along
Tune List:
  • This Little Light O' Mine
  • Holy, Holy, Holy
  • Abide With Me
  • Wade in the Water
  • They'll Know We Are Christians
  • Amazing Grace
  • There Is a Balm
  • I Surrender All
  • What a Friend We Have in Jesus
The Jazz Hymnal

The Jazz Hymnal is the first of its kind in the publishing world and is the perfect addition to the library of church music. It offers the church musician a unique selection of songs, both original compositions and traditional hymnody in harmonically-enhanced jazz/pop arrangement that challenge both the players and the listeners beyond the usual diatonic realm. The look of the book and arrangements is very professional and will be appreciated when read by musicians.

There are even suggestions about where to add improvised solos and some innovative ideas about congregational involvement. All of these tunes work well for both congregations and musicians. They have been tested with various congregations and musicians and have won the approval of both. Many of these songs, including "Never Place a Period Where God Has Placed a Comma," were enthusiastically received by 3500+ people at the 2003 United Churches Christ General Synod in Minneapolis.

Included are 51 songs written in several different formats that include jazz lead sheets, piano scoring, reduced conductor score, and even in some instances, full arrangements that include horn parts. The original compositions have lyrics and are easily learned by your congregations. In fact, the congregations love singing these songs, since they are fun and hip; they're always theologically sound and spiritually relevant to modern church themes. You will find beautiful new ballads and great new grooves such as hip-hop, reggae, samba and more. And your musicians will dig playing them.

Also included with the Jazz Hymnal is a CD sampler of 12 recorded songs found in the hymnal. These songs can be found on "Listen, the Music of Sanctuary Jazz" and "The Call."

The Jazz Hymnal songs are now available each for download.  

Click here for a free sample from this book.
We Shall Overcome

Here's a collection of 8 spirituals in a jazz keyboard style. They're fun to play and really put you in touch with the music of this great tradition. Sure to please your congregation. CD included.

Tune List:
  • We Shall Overcome
  • My Lord, What a Morning
  • Lord, I Want to be a Christian
  • Standing the Need of Prayer
  • When the Saints Go Marching In
  • I'm Goin'-a Sing When the Spirit Says Sing
  • Wade in the Water
  • Were You There
Sanctuary Jazz

out of print 

Tune List:

out of print - sorry

American Hymn Classics

out of print

Tune List:

out of print - sorry

Jazz Keyboard Study

Finally! A jazz keyboard study for both pianists and non-pianists in an easy to read format. Can be used for classroom or private study. Learn to play great sounding voicings from "lead" sheets or fake books. Published by Advance Music Publishers.

Tune List:
  • Elements of Harmony
  • Harmonic enhancement
  • Comping
  • Walking bass
  • The Family of 5's and 9's
  • Spread voicings
  • Drop voicings
  • Slash chords
  • Left hand voicings

. . . and much more.

Piano Meditations

In this day of frantic living, people search in all directions for relief from the stresses of daily life. I wrote these arrangements to help relieve these stresses. These songs are worshipful and contemplative in nature and adapt wonderfully to meditative moments in a worship service. 8-1/2" x 11" format, 24 pages. Published by Morningstar Music Publishers.

Tune List:
  • Be Still My Soul
  • The Church's One Foundation
  • January Rain (Marohnic)
  • Just as I Am
  • Lead Me, Lord
  • Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
  • Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
  • Now Thank We All Our God
  • The Storyteller (Marohnic)
  • When I Survey the Wondrous Cross