New York's own Joseph Joubert celebrated the release of his debut CD Total Praise-Classic Hymns for Piano to over 7,000 ministers and musicians at the 2009 Hampton Ministers' Conference.

"I'll bet you have never heard gospel songs and hymns played this way before...Total Praise is an amazing work, a wonderment of technical skill, a masterpiece of hymnody that will leave the listener wondering whether he's just had church at the symphony."
- Bob Marovich The Black Gospel Blog

The New York Times describes Joubert's playing as having "...uncommon tonal beauty and musical sensitivity...with telling refinement, poetic lyricism and coloristic delicacy."

"...Total Praise, is filled with gospel music hymns we all know and love set to beautiful classical piano music.... you can hear some blues and jazz thrown in which make for a wonderful surprise."
Dominique Stevens 1800gospel.com

From the Artist

My piano arrangements of sacred music started out as improvisations after classical concerts; I realized I needed to find a way to merge my classical technique and sacred pieces into a new idiom. I began writing down these arrangements, using motives and sections from my classical literature, as well as the style of the composers, and combining them with the themes of hymns and spirituals. What has evolved is my style of sacred piano transcriptions. There are elements of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff and Ravel, in addition to my own African American gospel and jazz influence, having grown up in the Baptist Church. This recording encompasses nearly a quarter century of composing, from my first arrangement (“Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross”) until my most recent (“Total Praise”). As a concert pianist I have included as many technical elements as possible. It is my intention to offer to God the gift of my full technique in all I perform. There is no improvisation—every note is written out.

About the Artist

A native of New York, New York, and son of a Baptist minister, Joubert began playing the piano at age eight. Serious study with Dora Zaslavsky commenced at age fifteen and, within one year, Mr. Joubert made his Town Hall debut with full orchestra. After advanced study and graduation from the Manhattan School of Music (Bachelor and Master of Music degrees), Mr. Joubert began to enjoy wider recognition as a solo pianist. As a record producer and arranger/orchestrator, Joubert successfully produced and arranged for Tramaine Hawkins’ recordings To a Higher Place and The Promised Land for Sony Records. His other recording collaborations include Ashford and Simpson, Diana Ross, George Benson, Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston, Jennifer Holiday, Dionne Warwick, Luther Vandross, Patti Austin, Diane Reeves, Wintley Phipps, Florence Quivar, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and The Boys Choir of Harlem. He taught he taught Fantasia, Chaka Khan and Bebe Winans their roles in the musical for The Color Purple on Broadway while serving as pianist/associate conductor.

Mr. Joubert received a Drama Desk Award nomination for his work as orchestrator for the Off-Broadway show Violet, (produced by Playwrights Horizons) and a Grammy Award nomination, along with Buryl Red and The CenturyMen (for which he is Associate Musical Director and Accompanist), for Best Classical Crossover Album. Mr. Joubert, along with Buryl Red and Michael McElroy, has a Grammy Award nomination for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists for “Joy to the World” from the CD Great Joy—A Gospel Christmas.

Order Total Praise today at www.giamusic.com or by calling 1.800.GIA.1358

Download the Catalogue of African American Worship Resources by GIA Publications

Booking Information

For booking, contact Joseph Joubert
Phone: 973-493-4738
Email: [email protected]