“Whether making high notes sound effortless, displaying quiet passion, or cutting loose like the best Broadway singer, Maria Jacobs is quite impressive.” - Scott Yanow, Jazz Journalist, Historian, and Author
As a nationally recognized Christian and jazz recording artist, Maria has worked with talented producers and arrangers. They include Grammy winner Pete Tokar, (Gerald Levert, The O'Jays, Patti LaBelle, Anita Baker, The Winans), who produced and programmed many of her albums, most especially her first full Christian album, “Perfect Is Your Will." Within that release however, is the title track of her Christian testimony, “Tell Them About Me,” which debuted at #1 on the Christian Radio Charts. It was produced and programmed by Grammy nominated Wally Minko (Arturo Sandoval, Toni Braxton, Pink, Jean-Luc Ponty, Barry Manilow).
Maria is represented by McLaughlin Music Group International, who promotes her music, which has placed and debuted on the Christian Radio Charts consistently in the top ten. Throughout this album, it is clear that Maria is rooted firmly in her Christian faith. She teaches and leads worship weekly in the Catholic Church, but has also had much experience singing and writing Gospel music in other beautiful praise settings.
Below you will find some reviews on “Perfect Is Your Will,” for which she wrote ten out of the twelve songs. You can also hear and buy the album, as well as view a video montage of several of her live jazz performances at the world renowned Cleveland Bop Stop. They are performances that became albums eight and nine.
NASHVILLE, TN (February 10, 2026) - National Christian and jazz recording artist, author, and speaker Maria Jacobs has released her new single “Tell Them About Me” to Christian radio. The song appears on her album Perfect Is Your Will and blends Christian Soft AC, Inspirational, and Smooth Jazz influences into a reflective and deeply personal expression of faith rooted in Scripture, testimony, and hope.
Written by Jacobs and produced by Wally Minko, “Tell Them About Me” carries special significance as it shares its title and message with her recent book of the same name. Both the song and the book flow from a defining moment in Jacobs’ life during a battle with bipolar disorder that nearly claimed her life. In her darkest hour, she experienced a supernatural encounter with Jesus, who spoke words that would forever shape her calling and ministry: “Tell them about Me.”
Those words now anchor the song’s lyrics, which draw directly from Scripture and personal experience. Built around the Great Commission from Matthew 28, the song declares, “Go and make disciples out of all nations,” while reaffirming Christ’s promise, “I am with you always till the end of the age.” Rather than quoting Scripture as a distant concept, the lyrics present it as a living truth, revealing a Savior who meets the brokenhearted, leaves the ninety-nine, and speaks peace in the valley.
Musically, the song’s smooth jazz and inspirational tone creates space for the message to breathe, allowing Jacobs’ warm, controlled vocal delivery to carry the weight of the testimony with sincerity and calm assurance. Top Christian Music News described the song as “pairing Scripture-centered lyrics with a smooth jazz groove, delivering the Great Commission with warmth, confidence, and quiet authority,” noting how its reflective sound supports both reassurance and calling.
Throughout the song, Jacobs echoes the comfort and instruction she received from the Lord, reminding listeners that they are never alone, even in seasons of fear, rejection, or despair. Lines affirming God’s nearness, personal worth, and faithfulness reflect both her lived journey and the unchanging truth of God’s Word. The repeated call to “tell them about me” functions as both worship and commission, gently urging believers to share their faith from a place of confidence in God’s abiding presence.
For Jacobs, it was essential that “Tell Them About Me” authentically reflect her Christian testimony and align fully with Scripture. The song stands as a declaration that healing, purpose, and renewed life can emerge from the darkest places, and that obedience often begins with simply sharing what God has done.
“Tell Them About Me” has been released to Christian radio as a song of hope, obedience, and restoration, offering encouragement to those facing mental health struggles, spiritual battles, or seasons of uncertainty, while pointing listeners to the Savior who draws near, restores lives, and sends His people out with the assurance that He is with them always.
----- February 2026, Christian Music News
Maria Jacobs is a jazz vocalist and professor with 10 full-length albums under her belt. Her latest--and first fully Christian release--is Perfect is Your Will. While jazz elements are present here, the sound is a mix of jazz and R&B with Gospel. Those might seem like strange genres to blend, but Jacobs and company pull it off well. It never strikes the listener as a jarring tonal shift. Speaking of tone, Jacobs' experience singing jazz and teaching voice shines through on every track. She lets her vocals range far and wide, but, like the music overall, never in a manner that feels showy or distracting. What the music lacks is something to distinguish it from other similar tracks. A saxophone gets a couple moments to shine, but a couple guitar or piano solos would have also been welcome. Similar to the music, the lyrics also tend to run the mill of general Gospel music. You have references to hymns (on "My Life Story," as well as a cover of "How Great Thou Art"), songs of devotion ("I Believe" and the title track), songs of praise ("Rejoice Always" or the standout "You're the God of Peace"), and a track that borders on testimonial ("My Life Story"). Two tracks break the mold of Gospel standard fare--"Salve Regina" and "You Are Highly Favored." Both center around Mary and bear a more worshipful tone than most Protestant listeners will be comfortable with. That said, they do give the album some flavor to make it stand out from a crowd. Messages aside, the lyrics also feel standard for the genre. There are some moments, however, when the words break into unique territory, like on "When I Meet the King" when Jacobs sings, "I won't play upon a drum/I will have nothing to strum..." It's not only a smart reference to a Christmas classic, it's a clever rhyme unto itself. Overall, Perfect is Your Will should play well to a niche audience of Gospel music fans. That field is strong with talented vocalists, and Maria Jacobs should be a welcome addition. Fans of soulful worship ought to find this album a delightful listen.
----- November 2025, John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com
Maria Jacobs’ Perfect Is Your Will is the standout title cut from her 10th solo album and first full-length Christian project. The track captures both the richness of her artistry and the depth of her faith, offering a timeless message of surrender and trust in God’s sovereignty.
From the very first verse, Jacobs’ voice draws the listener in with warmth and clarity, gliding effortlessly over a delicate backdrop of piano and strings. The arrangement builds gradually, with drums and bass entering after the first chorus to anchor the song in a steady, flowing rhythm. By the second chorus, layered background vocals and rich harmonies swell, creating an atmosphere of both intimacy and grandeur. The production feels both laid back and powerful, smooth enough for reflective worship yet stirring enough to inspire a congregation.
The lyrics themselves are a prayer of submission: “Our hearts shall be transformed as You renew our minds. With all we have, we lay down our lives.” They point listeners to a God whose will is perfect, whose sovereignty spans generations, and whose presence brings both comfort and conviction. Each repetition of the chorus, “Your perfect will, we seek Your perfect will”, acts as a call to worship that resonates long after the final notes fade.
What makes this track stand out is Jacobs’ vocal delivery. Her voice is not only technically impeccable but also filled with emotion and spiritual conviction. She moves from tender whispers of reverence to soaring declarations of praise with ease, carrying the weight of the lyrics in a way that feels both personal and universal.
Produced by Pete Tokar, the song’s arrangement balances restraint and richness, never overshadowing the message but elevating it through its dynamics. The combination of smooth instrumentation, lush harmonies, and Jacobs’ commanding yet tender voice makes Perfect Is Your Will both a personal devotional piece and a powerful centerpiece of the album.
With this release, Maria Jacobs cements her place as not just a seasoned artist but a vessel for timeless truth. Perfect Is Your Will is more than a song. It is a worshipful anthem of faith in the One Who is always good.
----- December, 2025 Christian Music News