For the first time in 16 years, the original members of First Call, Marty McCall, Bonnie Keen and Melodie Tunney, have reunited to record Rejoice: An A Cappella Hymns Collection in stores next Tuesday, May 23rd.

“Hymns have always been a huge part of who Bonnie, Melodie, and I are – individually, and as a group,” Marty explains. “We have sung various hymns together through the years, and so when we decided to do the CD a cappella, it felt natural to make it a Hymns project.”

In all their years of recording, First Call never did a Hymns project. And Bonnie thinks there was a reason for that. “What a precious project to work on now, after all that has happened to us,”she says. “It feels so good to sing vertically at this point.”

Featuring arrangements from David Hamilton, Travis Cottrell and David Maddux, REJOICE takes the group full circle, back to what started it all; the unique, Manhattan Transfer-ish, jazzy, intricate vocal stylings First Call was always known for. Bonnie’s husband, Brent King (who just won his fourth Grammy Award for engineering/production), has served as the project’s producer.

There is nothing like an original, and REJOICE is back to basics for First Call. “This is the original trio,” enthuses Bonnie. “The original First Call… allowed to begin again… a rebirth, so unexpected, so merciful and healing… and for anyone who listens, you’ll hear the hope of the three of us; still united, still friends, still undivided in heart.”

“We honestly never dreamed we would be back on stage with each other again,” says Melodie. “But God has been so faithful in the midst of so many things. His redemptive heart shows up when we least expect it.”

Audio clips from First Call’s reunion album can be found on their YMZ artist page. Rejoice: An A Cappella Hymns Collection will be available at Canadian Christian retailers next Tuesday.