Prime Cuts: What a Wonderful World, Garden of Praise (In the Garden / My Tribute / Goodness of God), Celebration of America Medley
Overall Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
On a Different Note finds Tim Lovelace at his most elegant, intentional, and musically generous. Best known to many for his quick wit and masterful storytelling, Lovelace here steps fully into the spotlight as a pianist and arranger, offering a warm, reflective project that highlights his deep love for melody, memory, and meaning. The result is an album that feels less like a performance showcase and more like an invitation-an invitation to sit, listen, and remember why these songs have endured.
Anchored by Lovelace's signature piano stylings, the album moves effortlessly between American standards, sacred hymns, and gospel favorites. The opening track, "What a Wonderful World," immediately sets the tone, unfolding with tenderness and restraint. Lovelace resists the urge to overplay, allowing space and nuance to do the emotional heavy lifting. That same sensitivity carries through beloved standards like "You've Got a Friend in Me" and "Let There Be Peace on Earth," both of which feel freshly personal without losing their universal familiarity.
Sacred selections are treated with equal care. "This Is My Father's World" glows with reverence, while the joyful gospel number "The Meeting in the Air" injects a lively, old-school warmth into the tracklist. One of the album's most affecting moments arrives with "Garden of Praise," a medley that seamlessly weaves "In the Garden," "My Tribute," and "Goodness of God." The arrangement bridges generations of worship music, creating a sense of continuity that feels both comforting and quietly profound.
Produced and arranged by Lovelace alongside renowned orchestrator Wayne Haun, the album is polished without ever sounding clinical. Every arrangement feels purposeful, serving the song rather than overshadowing it. That philosophy reaches its pinnacle in the "Celebration of America Medley," a sweeping tribute released in honor of the United States' 250th birthday. Featuring legendary harmonica player Charlie McCoy, the medley blends "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Shenandoah," "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," "America the Beautiful," and "God Bless America" into a stirring tapestry of national memory and hope.
McCoy's harmonica also appears on "You've Got a Friend in Me" and "Pass Me Not / Precious Lord," adding a layer of historical resonance and emotional depth. For Lovelace, the collaboration carries personal significance, transforming admiration into artistic kinship-and that sense of full-circle joy is audible in every note.
On a Different Note succeeds because it knows exactly what it wants to be. It is not flashy, trendy, or rushed. Instead, it is thoughtful, nostalgic, and deeply human-an album that honors the past while offering peace for the present. Whether encountered as background comfort or attentive listening, this collection affirms Tim Lovelace not only as a gifted communicator and entertainer, but as a pianist with a rare ability to let songs speak for themselves.
