Heard some gospel jazz about 20 years ago in church from a saxophonist. I was intrigued, went home, did some research and found these guys:
Allen & Allen (keyboard and saxophone)
Ben Tankard (mostly keyboard but plays other instruments, too)
Jeff Majors (harp)
Kirk Whalum (saxophone and flute) but not limited to gospel.
I've found unless I've heard the song with words somewhere in the singing gospel world, or there is a soloist or group singing along with a specific message, the music is pretty much simply very good entertainment.
Other secular artists who've made impressions on me with their "gospel" songs are:
Martina McBride "Concrete Angel" and "God's Will" with a lovely but haunting play on words.
Joe Nichols "If Nobody Believed in You" and "Revelation" a disturbing account of judgment day with a surprise ending.
Chaka Khan "Roll Me Through the Rushes"
Whitney Houston soundtrack to the movie "The Preacher's Wife"
Lauren Hill soundtrack to the movie Sister Act 2 "Joyful, Joyful"
Cheryl Pepsii Riley soundtrack from Diary of a Mad Black Woman "One of Us"
duet by Phillip Bailey from Earth, Wind & Fire and Deniece Williams "They Say"
I also find India.Arie's music to be very uplifting and she's not afraid to mention God in some of her songs.
And the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin's "Amazing Grace" album which this past year was finally made into a movie.
And let's not forget the Staple Singers started off as a gospel group and had an influence on others like Bob Dylan.
And as for Classical, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the well known "Handel's Messiah"
Allen & Allen (keyboard and saxophone)
Ben Tankard (mostly keyboard but plays other instruments, too)
Jeff Majors (harp)
Kirk Whalum (saxophone and flute) but not limited to gospel.
I've found unless I've heard the song with words somewhere in the singing gospel world, or there is a soloist or group singing along with a specific message, the music is pretty much simply very good entertainment.
Other secular artists who've made impressions on me with their "gospel" songs are:
Martina McBride "Concrete Angel" and "God's Will" with a lovely but haunting play on words.
Joe Nichols "If Nobody Believed in You" and "Revelation" a disturbing account of judgment day with a surprise ending.
Chaka Khan "Roll Me Through the Rushes"
Whitney Houston soundtrack to the movie "The Preacher's Wife"
Lauren Hill soundtrack to the movie Sister Act 2 "Joyful, Joyful"
Cheryl Pepsii Riley soundtrack from Diary of a Mad Black Woman "One of Us"
duet by Phillip Bailey from Earth, Wind & Fire and Deniece Williams "They Say"
I also find India.Arie's music to be very uplifting and she's not afraid to mention God in some of her songs.
And the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin's "Amazing Grace" album which this past year was finally made into a movie.
And let's not forget the Staple Singers started off as a gospel group and had an influence on others like Bob Dylan.
And as for Classical, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the well known "Handel's Messiah"