Come Home to Classical Hymns
Hey! All you classical buffs, this one is for you, and you will most definitely will want both versions of this album! The album is Come Home vol 1 and the artist is Min Jin, originally from Seoul, South Korea. An assistant professor of voice at Towson University, in Maryland, Min Jin has an impressive list of performances as a recitalist, an opera performer, and an oratorio soloist with choral societies. When you listen to any one of his performances on youtube, it’s no wonder he’s so accomplished. His voice is clear with a dark timbre, full, passionate, and beautiful vibrato with excellent control. This collection is filled with classic hymns, some more well known than others, but all show the range of emotion and suit Min’s voice exceptionally well.
Come Home vol 1 includes 11 songs with one instrumental, for a total of 12 songs and a shy hour in running length. Min Jin has included some classics such as “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” “Blessed Assurance,” and “The Lord’s Prayer.” Min Jin also covers “Were it Not for Grace,” made popular by artists like Larnelle Harris and Sandi Patty. There’s a special tenderness in Min’s voice when he starts out “In the Garden” that is quite believable and moving. This is the English version of the album, if you want to hear a bit more emotion from Min Jin, and yes it’s possible, there’s a specialness in the way he sings these songs in Korean, that anyone in any language with which could relate. If you enjoy the English version, make sure you download the Korean version from iTunes!
Hopefully, there will be a vol 2 in the near future, this is a wonderful collection, tastefully done with minimal instrumentation that serves the vocalist in the best light, displaying his vocal skill and tone exceptionally well. All the supporting instrumentalists play very well, the arrangements are never bombastic or over dramatic, the dynamics are left up to Min Jin, and he delivers on every song.
Come Home vol 1 was produced by Jake Bay, arranged by Jake Bay, James Ra, Keeyoung Kim, Yongjin Roh. Playing on the record are Kwan Yi, Dave Cleveland, Boram Kang, Julie Ahn, Hyejin Kim, Hyun Ji Choi, and Rachel Choe. Recorded and mixed by Daniel Choi.
Click Image below to download Come Home vol 1: English Version
Click here for the Korean version of Come Home vol 1