Tag: Koinonia

This is the last album from Koinonia. They had a fantastic run and it’s hard to believe there were only 4 albums and only 3 of them were studio albums. I think we can all agree that Koinonia were bigger than there discography shows. I noticed this album actually leans more towards easy listening than their previous jazz fusion sound and as such it’s not quite as good. I still think it’s a good album but the sound on several tracks is not really them per se. I don’t know if this had anything to do with the fact this is their last album but obviously the band was leaning towards a change. Anyway all the members of the band over the years went on to successful studio careers but none of them had a particularly successful headliner album again.

Tracklist
1 – Talk About It – 4:50
2 – We Know The Way By Heart – 3:54
3 – Alegria – 4:01
4 – Is It Too Late – 5:01
5 – Mistral – 4:56
6 – We’re All In This Together – 4:17
7 – Come Share My World – 4:29
8 – You Are My Love – 4:24
9 – Straight To Paradise – 3:51
10 – Lyn – 2:52

Credits
Backing Vocals – Alfie Silas, Brenda Eager*, Jean Johnson, Jeff Pescetto, Lou Pardini, Patti Henely, Rose Banks
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Bill Maxwell
Engineer – Richard McKernan
Executive Producer – Jerry Levin
Guitar – Dean Parks, Michael Landau
Guitar [Acoustic] – Abraham Laboriel
Keyboards – Harlan Rogers, Lou Pardini
Lead Vocals – Lou Pardini
Percussion – Michael Fisher
Producer – Jerry Hey

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – De La Hey Music
Copyright © – Geffin Music
Copyright © – Guidum Music
Copyright © – Harlan Rogers Music
Copyright © – Margarine Moon Music
Copyright © – Monotone Music
Copyright © – Pardini Music
Copyright © – Reed Vertelney Music
Copyright © – Royal/Dale Music
Copyright © – S.S.K. Blackwood
Copyright © – Screen Gems
Copyright © – Sunhill Music
Published By – Word (Uk) Ltd.

This is the one that started it all for Koinonia. The band formed in 1980 and were probably one of the first Christian bands to play their particular fusion jazz style. While the band were somewhat popular in North America they were huge Scandinavia where their style of music was really well received. Personally I don’t care that much for the style but they do it well and I always appreciate well done music even if it’s not my style.

Tracklist
1 – More Than A Feelin’ – 5:29
2 – Rescue – 4:24
3 – Graceful – 4:32
4 – Cuando – 3:59
5 – Divina – 4:09
6 – Give Your Love – 5:29
7 – Valentine – 5:35
8 – Funky Bumpkins – 4:43
9 – On My Way Home – 5:31

Credits
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums, Percussion – Alex Acuña, Bill Maxwell
Engineer – Bill Schnee
Guitar – Dean Parks, Hadley Hockensmith
Keyboards – Harlan Rogers
Photography By – David Randle
Producer – Bill Schnee
Synthesizer – Michael Omartian
Vocals – Abraham Laboriel, Bill Maxwell, Harlan Rogers, Russ Taff
Woodwind – John Phillips (6), Justo Almario

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Key Of The Moment Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Breaker Records
Distributed By – MCA Distributing Corporation

While not that well known in North America Koinonia was very very popular in Scandinavia. This concert is a testament to their popularity as it was recorded at Scandinavium in Göteborg, Sweden in front of a crowd of about 14,000 people. Now even if you’re not a fan of their Jazz Fusion style you should check out track 6 “Sno-Cone” as it is a blues jam style track, and it is very very good. Other than that the album is Jazz Fusion as I said and Koinonia are the masters of this style.

Tracklist
1 – Pilgrim’s Progression – 6:55
2 – Hidden Beauty – 4:40
3 – Agapao – 1:34
4 – Celebration – 6:25
5 – Countin’ The Cost – 6:38
6 – Sno-Cone – 5:18
7 – From You – 4:54
8 – Goodbye – Means God Be With You – 5:28
9 – All The Time – 4:17
10 – Miracle – 4:20

Credits
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums, Percussion – Alex Acuña, Bill Maxwell
Engineer – Keith Grant, Win Kutz
Engineer [Assistant] – Agne Thorstensson, Lennart Nilsson, Ray Leonard, Steve Ford, Todd Van Etten
Guitar – Hadley Hockensmith
Keyboards – Harlan Rogers
Mastered By – Pounda, Steve Hall
Producer – Koinonia
Vocals – Abraham Laboriel
Woodwind – Justo Almario

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Scandinavium
Phonographic Copyright (p) – The Sparrow Corporation
Copyright (c) – The Sparrow Corporation
Mastered At – Future Disc
Mastered At – Tape One
Mixed At – Mama Jo’s
Mixed At – Sound City Studios
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Printed By – Shorewood Packaging Co. Ltd.

This was Koinonia’s 4th release and as with their other albums it wasn’t very successful in North America but was a big hit in Europe. This album is almost entirely instrumental except for “Making Room” and “Señor”. I am guessing this is a result of the jazz style but the vocals are so good it’s too bad they didn’t do more. As with their previous albums this album has a strong Jazz Fusion sound and they were probably the best Christian artists in this style. That said I don’t think their were many CCM bands doing this style. Their next album was far more mainstream so this is the end of an era for their listeners and fans. This is one I missed in the 80’s so I’m glad I got a chance now to enjoy it.

Tracklist
1 – Gazoot – 4:30
2 – Chuncho – 6:20
3 – Greatest Love – 4:48
4 – Frontline – 5:13
5 – Señor – 4:21
6 – You Can’t Hide – 4:34
7 – Around The Corner (Runt Hornet) – 3:55
8 – Easy Morning – 4:22
9 – Making Room – 4:09

Credits
Arranged By – Koinonia
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums, Percussion – Alex Acuña, Bill Maxwell
Engineer – Don Murray
Executive-Producer, Producer – Greg Mathieson
Guitar – Hadley Hockensmith
Keyboards – Harlan Rogers
Producer – Koinonia
Saxophone, Flute – Justo Almario
Synthesizer [Programming] – Greg Mathieson, Smitty Price
Vocals – Abraham Laboriel (tracks: B1, B5), Alex Acuña (tracks: B1), Diana Neciosup-Acuña* (tracks: B1), Harlan Rogers (tracks: B1), Howard Smith (tracks: B1), Tata Vega (tracks: B1, B5)

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Sparrow Records
Phonographic Copyright (p) – The Sparrow Corporation
Copyright (c) – The Sparrow Corporation
Recorded At – Sunset Sound
Mixed At – Mama Jo’s
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering