Ben Tankard, the icon of Gospel Jazz, has just released his new album “RE-IMAGINED SONGBOOK” on November 20, 2025. This 14-track project revisits his favorite songs, but also classics Gospel, R&B and Worship, entirely rearranged in Smooth Jazz. The album features collaborations with Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Marion Meadows, Gerald Albright and Shirley Murdock, bringing together major figures in contemporary jazz and gospel.
“RE-IMAGINED SONGBOOK”: gospel jazz revisited by Tankard
- “RE-IMAGINED SONGBOOK” will be released on November 20, 2025 on the Ben-Jamin’ Universal label.
- The record includes a dulcet jazz version of Tamia’s R&B hit, “Can’t Get Enough,” which inspired the “Tamia Line Dance” that went viral in 2025.
- Among the guests: Gerald Albright (“Like The Dew”), Kirk Whalum (“It’s Working”), Marion Meadows (“Rise”), and Shirley Murdock on the cover of the soul hit “I’ll Take You There” by the Staple Singers.
- The album is available on all music streaming platforms.
Ben Tankard is in the gospel-jazz music pantheon with 16 Stellar Awards, induction into the Stellar Award Hall of Fame (2018), 3 Grammy nominations, 8 Dove Awards, as well as NAACP Image Awards and Soul Train Awards. His repertoire and career span decades, including international collaborations, world tours and musical innovation.
Reactions and impact
Since its release, “RE-IMAGINED SONGBOOK” has been hailed for its unifying spirit and the creativity of its arrangements, confirming Tankard as one of the main ambassadors of instrumental gospel jazz. The song “Can’t Get Enough” circulated widely on social media, boosting the popularity of Tamia Line Dance at holiday parties and family events.
In parallel with his musical career, Ben Tankard hosts the “Full Tank Podcast” offering inspiration and humor, with guests from various backgrounds. He also acts as a speaker (notably with the NBA), author, pilot, mentor and pastor. With his wife Jewel, he leads a church and participates in numerous family and television projects.
Family series “Thicker Than Water”
The Tankard family is also in the spotlight thanks to the series “Thicker Than Water: The Tankards”, season 4 of which (Home Video) is now broadcast on their YouTube channel. This docu-reality program traces their daily lives as musicians, pastors, entrepreneurs and parents, with a strong desire to show family and entrepreneurial values, far from gender stereotypes.
