(Photo :Wayne Haun "Old Soul")

Regardless of age, many of us have within us an "old soul." We long for the things that transcend time, trends and technology. We long to be transported into the beauty of the eternal where we are inoculated by the trifling of triviality. Maybe this is why you see young contestants on singing shows such as US's "American Idol" or UK's "X-Factor" or Australia's "The Voice" would occasionally resort to singing the tunes of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. There is something about the 32 bars of the Great American Songbook that is just timeless. These songs come from an era where melodies are made to be sung rather than programmed; where lyrics are painted with poetic eloquence rather than written to secure street credibility. So, it is with no surprise that many established artists (Sandi Patty, Rod Stewart Kathy Troccoli and most recently Mark Lowry) would sidestep from their usual repertoire to cut an album of standards. Wayne Haun who sings, plays the piano and produces for Ernie Haase and Signature Sound is a much sought after producer/songwriter in Christian music. A five-time Dove winner and having at least forty five unprecedented nominations Haun has been known to helm landmark records such as Jason Crabb's "Love is Stronger," the Perry's "Come Thirsty" and Janet Paschal's "Treasure."

"Old Soul" finds this famed producer/song writer re-visiting the old Broadway show tunes, a Dolly Parton hit, a couple of new tunes and the evergreens from great American Songbook. When the movie "Father of the Bride" first debut, the movie was hugely propelled by Steve Tyrell's definitive rendition of "Give Me the Simple Life." Tyrell's gravel-like voice brought a new definition to the words "cosy" and "quaint" like lines like: "A cottage small if all I'm after/Not one that's spacious and wide/A house that rings with joy and laughter/And the ones you love inside." Haun's more supple tenor may lack Tyrell's distinctiveness but it certainly is a close rival. Things get jazzy with bright sounding horns and Harry Connick Jr's styled piano chops on Frank Sinatra's "Let's Fall in Love;" this song gorgeously captures the sweetness of the first flush of love.

Most intriguing is Haun's take of Dolly Parton's playfully coy number one country hit "Here You Come Again." Parton's compositions, evidenced by her signature "I Will Always Love You," are so malleable that it can easily flourish across genres. "Here You Come Again" is another prime example; this song functions equally well with a big band/jazzy backings as well as in a field of fiddles and steel guitars. "Blue Again" is the album inspirational apogee. Though God is not mentioned, this song tells us what the Apostle Paul has been telling us in Romans 8 that the troubles of this world will one day passed. This song is indeed a great boost to the downtrodden. While "Stars Would Fall," as the title suggests, is a piano love ballad that is so amorous that you feel like you are lost in a never ending love story.

Eernie Hasse joins Haun for some fun with the brassy jazz swing of "Are We Havin' Fun Yet." However, a few of the show tunes such as "The Sweetest Sounds" from "Cinderella" and "Speak Low" from "One Touch of Venus" are little more sedate and obligatory relative to the rest of the album. Nevertheless, "Old Soul" is a quite a magical ride of an album; these ten songs have a way of transporting us to the sepia tone era where songs are sung rather than sampled; where love is committed rather than just merely pleasured; and where lyrics are painted rather than just told.