I’ve always considered joy to be several steps beyond happiness. I have a favorite picture of my nephew, Travis, at age 3 simply toddling down a wooded path. The joy bursting through his face, his joy at being alive in the world, is so palpable that I defy anyone to look at the picture without breaking into a grin. It is, for me, symbolic of what I reach for every day, but sadly, too often do not attain.

A child shall lead us.

Mr. Webster tells us that an “Ode” (I know, a funny old-fashioned word) is “a lyric poem characterized by lofty feeling, elaborate form and dignified style.” I’ll let you decide if this fits, but suffice it to say that it was my intention to mix the old with the new, to bring a fresh look to some of the old classic hymns and tunes that have represented my ideals of this special three letter word that stands for so much.

My own personal joy is found in many corners and in many different colors. Certainly one of them, I find daily in my recording studio. For the last year, it didn’t matter what stresses I faced, what disappointments I struggled through, what frustrations I imposed upon myself – when I stepped into the studio to work on this album, the problems of the world just blew to dust. Each piece a different shade of joy, I hope to musically shed some new light for you on this amazing word.

Joy to the world!