Maria Jacobs is a jazz vocalist and professor with 10 full-length albums under her belt. Her latest--and first fully Christian release--is Perfect is Your Will. While jazz elements are present here, the sound is a mix of jazz and R&B with Gospel. Those might seem like strange genres to blend, but Jacobs and company pull it off well. It never strikes the listener as a jarring tonal shift. Speaking of tone, Jacobs' experience singing jazz and teaching voice shines through on every track. She lets her vocals range far and wide, but, like the music overall, never in a manner that feels showy or distracting. What the music lacks is something to distinguish it from other similar tracks. A saxophone gets a couple moments to shine, but a couple guitar or piano solos would have also been welcome. Similar to the music, the lyrics also tend to run the mill of general Gospel music. You have references to hymns (on "My Life Story," as well as a cover of "How Great Thou Art"), songs of devotion ("I Believe" and the title track), songs of praise ("Rejoice Always" or the standout "You're the God of Peace"), and a track that borders on testimonial ("My Life Story"). Two tracks break the mold of Gospel standard fare--"Salve Regina" and "You Are Highly Favored." Both center around Mary and bear a more worshipful tone than most Protestant listeners will be comfortable with. That said, they do give the album some flavor to make it stand out from a crowd. Messages aside, the lyrics also feel standard for the genre. There are some moments, however, when the words break into unique territory, like on "When I Meet the King" when Jacobs sings, "I won't play upon a drum/I will have nothing to strum..." It's not only a smart reference to a Christmas classic, it's a clever rhyme unto itself. Overall, Perfect is Your Will should play well to a niche audience of Gospel music fans. That field is strong with talented vocalists, and Maria Jacobs should be a welcome addition. Fans of soulful worship ought to find this album a delightful listen.

- Review date: 10/7/25, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

 

 Record Label: None
 Album length: 14 tracks: 56 minutes, 4 seconds
 Street Date: May 16, 2025
 Buy It: Bandcamp

1. How Great Thou Art (2:11)
2. I Believe (5:01)
3. Perfect Is Your Will (5:10)
4. Tell Them About Me (4:00)
5. Cast Out My Net (3:24)
6. Rejoice Always (5:06)
7. Salve Regina (3:37)
8. You're The God of Peace (4:31)
9. When I Meet The King (4:14)
10. You Are Highly Favored (2:51)
11. My Life Story (5:12)
12. My God is Here (2:33)
13. I Believe - Radio Edit (4:01)
14. Perfect Is Your Will - Radio Edit (4:07)