Heavenly Melody Crosses Genres--“The Freedom I Long For” Jazz Concert Reinvents Classic Hymns

On January 31, Heavenly Melody held “The Freedom I Long For: Classic Hymns × Jazz Concert” at the Heavenly Melody Media Center. Through jazz arrangements, the choir reinterpreted many beloved Chinese hymns, offering a fresh and creative expression of worship that crosses musical genres.

More than 200 guests attended the event, including Heavenly Melody fans, jazz music lovers, pastors, and business leaders. Together, they worshiped God through music—listening, reflecting, and encountering Him in the freedom and space that jazz uniquely offers.

Daniel Hsieh, ORTV Executive Director and Heavenly Melody Director, shared the project’s vision: “During the pandemic, we asked ourselves what kind of music we could create to help people in need. Someone suggested re-arranging Heavenly Melody’s classic hymns in a jazz style. We hoped this would allow us to reach new audiences. Jazz is a language of depth and freedom, and through it, we want these hymns to be heard from new perspectives—and for more listeners to encounter the core values of the Christian faith.”

Giving Voice to the Heart’s Deepest Longing

The concert opened with Heavenly Melody Deputy Director Mei Wang singing the album’s title song, “The Freedom I Long For.” Through jazz-style vocal improvisation, she offered a sincere prayer to God—setting aside classical constraints and singing freely from the depths of her heart. The performance felt like an intimate conversation with God, as if sitting beside a close and trusted friend, sharing both gratitude and need.

Wang explained that jazz is not about achieving technical perfection, but about unity—musicians and vocals listening to one another and creating something whole together. This, she noted, is very different from classical music and deeply meaningful as a form of worship.

Jazz is Faith + Grace

Ronnie Lampas, one of the producers of “The Freedom I Long For” jazz vinyl album, was the music director and bassist for the concert. He shared: “Jazz improvisation is like faith—an act of surrender and trust. It doesn’t follow a strict formula, yet it overflows with grace. This album uses the language of jazz to help hymns express the voice of the soul.”

Lampas also shared that the album was created to introduce jazz-style hymns to younger generations, who often see hymns as traditional but are drawn to jazz. This fusion allows timeless worship songs to be rediscovered in a new way.

Renowned Musicians Join

The concert featured several renowned musicians. Latin jazz guitarist Roberto Zayas, who has worked with top Mandarin pop artists, joined the performance and shared that this project was especially meaningful to him:

“Through beautiful melodies and jazz arrangements, this album shares the message of Jesus without losing the emotional power of the lyrics. I’m honored to be part of a project that brings glory to God through music.”

Saxophonist Hsiao-En Yang, lecturer at Taipei National University of the Arts and lead saxophonist of the Taipei Jazz Orchestra, reflected on Heavenly Melody’s long-standing role in Christian music in Taiwan. She noted that this album continues a legacy of cross-cultural music ministry.

One Faith, Many Voices

Singer Chien-Shih Yang performed “I Give You My Heart” with a rich, emotional tone, describing the experience as walking peacefully with God who deeply loves and understands her.

Veteran music producer and singer Ku Hao, who has worked with many well-known artists, performed “The Universe Sings” in a joyful jazz style. He explained that he recorded the song shortly after his mother passed away. Through faith, sorrow was transformed into hope and joy—an experience very different from performing pop music, and one grounded in God’s enduring presence.

Taiwan-born Canadian singer Christine Bedwell reinterpreted the classic hymn “Flowers of the Field.” She shared that jazz allowed her to rediscover the song, a song that has a light sound but carries great depth. It addresses life’s uncertainties, ultimately testifying to God’s sustaining strength.