Songs of Comfort and Hope was conceived in April 2020, when people everywhere were entering a dramatic new world—one in which we were separated from our loved ones and many were isolated and filled with fear. Featuring 21 new recordings—ranging from fresh arrangements of traditional folk tunes, pop songs, and jazz standards, to mainstays from the Western classical repertoire—the songs on the album bring a sense of community, identity, and purpose, crossing boundaries and binding us together in thanks, consolation, and encouragement.