Platinum-selling gospel jazz pianist, bestselling author, reality TV star, and pastor, Ben Tankard on Friday independently released his latest instrumental album, RISE! Having released gospel jazz music for nearly three decades, Tankard promises some of his best work yet on RISE!

"I am super excited about this record because I was able to instrumentally remake three time-honored classics that have been true to my heart for years," says Tankard.

Those classics include the 1980's cult classic instrumental song, "Rise," by nine-time Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Herb Alpert. Tankard's remake of "Rise" features saxophonist Marion Meadows and is the first smooth jazz single from the album and is already making waves as Most Added on the Smooth Jazz Chart.

Other classic songs on the album include William Murphy's gospel hit "It's Working," here featuring Kirk Whalum, as well as a favorite by the legendary Williams Brothers, "Still Here," which marks Tankard's first recording of a quartet song.

Affectionately known as the godfather of gospel jazz, Tankard was recently inducted into the Stellar Honors Hall of Fame at the 2018 Stellar Gospel Music Awards ceremony in March. Tankard's honor by the Stellar Awards testifies to his lifetime of achievements in the gospel music industry as an artist, musician, and producer.

Kicking off this Saturday, Oct. 6, Tankard will bring his music on the "RISE! Album Tour" crisscrossing the nation with 23 dates through the end of the year, including a stop in Toronto, Canada, on Nov. 30. In addition, his reality TV show, The Tankards, will return for another season in 2019.

RISE! is available everywhere now, including Walmart stores.

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Click below to listen to the album's title-track "Rise!" or click here to listen on YouTube:

RISE! Track List:

1. Rise! (feat. Marion Meadows)

2.  More Rain (feat. Paul Jackson, Jr)

3.  It's Working (feat. Kirk Whalum)

4. Smooth Sunday (feat. 1LV)

5. Still Here (feat. Dejuan Williams)

6. Afternoon Nap (feat. Kyle Schroeder)

7. George the Duke  

8. Passionfruit (Drake's Jam) 

9. Unlisted Number (feat. Unlisted Number)

10. Piano Hymn (feat. Neb Draknat)

Ben Tankard "RISE!" Tour Dates:

Oct 6    Washington, DC

Oct 7    Temple Hills, MD

Oct 7    Baltimore, MD

Oct 12  Cleveland, OH 

Oct 13  Suffolk, VA

Oct 14  New Port News, VA

Oct 14   Norfolk, VA

Oct 19   Atlanta, GA

Oct 20  Orlando, FL

Oct 21  Marietta, GA

Nov 2   Hershey, PA 

Nov 3   Pittsburgh, PA

Nov 4   Jackson, TN

Nov 16-18 Murfreesboro,TN

Nov 30 Toronto, Canada

Dec 7   Dallas, TX

Dec 8   Columbus, MS

Dec 9   Mobile, AL

Dec 14  Tuskegee, AL

Dec 15  Atlanta, GA

Dec 30 Asheville, AL