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Bill, thanks for your input and comments on this subject –
Christians loving music and Christ is where its at!!! Please tell Camp Kirkland I said hello!!!!!
David Arivett
From: christianjazzgroup@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:christianjazzgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ytrac@...
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 12:58 PM
To: christianjazzgroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [christianjazzgroup] What Is A Christian Jazz Artist
Anyway????
As a Christian Jazz Artist who has done 10
mission trips in the last 5 years, I can tell you from a Christian stand point
that I have seen doors opened thru music that words could never unlock. I
play with a Christian Big Band led by Camp Kirkland. We have played in
Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Japan, Oman, Guatemala and Cuba just to name a few
places. In EVERY instance, I have seen the hand of God work thru our
music. What were we playing? A mix of Christian Themed Jazz tunes and
Secular Tunes. Everything from Ralph Carmichael to Dave Wolpe and all
points inbetween. For example, when we played in Volgograd, Russia last
summer, we did a recording at the University. The biggest pop we got was
when we played "In The Mood", the original Joe Garland arrangement
from the Glenn Miller Orchestra. The crowd went wild for "Jazz
Police" from the Gordon Godwin library, and cheered every solo in the
swing arrangement we did of "Amazing Grace" with open solo section. I
believe this was a Richard Kingsmore arrangment. Yes we used blues
scales, penatonic scales, harmonic minor scales, and every thing you can
imagine to create our solos. We let people see us a Christians, loving
music, and loving Christ. Music is what God created for worship, and if
you are praising God, you can do this with all music.
Now let me state, I am not trying to start a religious debate. I respect
all musicians, Christian or not. Anyone who can reach out and20grab and
audience while soloing is amazing in my book. I just wanted to share that
a Christian Jazz Artist is just what it says he or she is...a Jazz Artist, who
is a a Christian.
God bless
Bill "BC" Carty
Psalm 100:1
-----Original Message-----
From: David Arivett <Darivett@...>
To: christianjazzgroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, Jul 27, 2009 4:09 am
Subject: RE: [christianjazzgroup] What Is A Christian Jazz Artist Anyway????
Eric, thanks for your thread about the so-called secular/sacred
debate. For all those interested in exploring this subject further I invite you
to check out the article, “What Is A Christian Jazz Artist Anyway” which deals
with the same subject.
0A
It is liberating indeed to discover that in reality there is no
secular/sacred division!
Here is a quote from the article (mentioned above):
“Celebrating and enjoying your musical gifts is a spiritual act
in itself and God is glorified…God is delighted when we enjoy and use our
musical gifts!!
But we must further define what, "to the glory of God"
means! Unfortunately for many, glorifying God has been narrowed down to mean
only doing something religious! This type of thinking has had a devastating
effect upon the manner in which Christians view the arts in general. This
outlook implies that the arts must be used only as a vehicle for evangelism -
not art for arts sake. This leads to ignoring all art that isn't specifically
designated as, "Christian Music" or at least created by Christians.
Jazz Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon is a deeply spiritual man who
has struggled with the sacred/secular musical dichotomy that exists today -
especially the old school of thinking about music from many church folks.
Wycliffe shares that while growing up, "If you w eren't playing church
music you were playing the, 'devil's' music! It presented a challenge for me
because I'd grown up in the church and I didn't want to go against what I’d
been taught." Wycliffe went on to discover in time that, "it's
all music and it's all from the same source." Wow! That is a most profound
insight because we as Christians believe that the Creator is the source of all
creativity!
You see, this "old school" thinking unfortunately has
had a very negative effect upon the aspiring Christian jazz musician. Christian
musicians are made to feel obligated to play, "only for the Lord" in
church and usually without pay because again its music, "for the
Lord". And then they are totally forbidden to play at clubs because its
the, 'devils music' so they can't make a living playing at church or anywhere
else and are forced to get a, 'real' job. Unfortunately I have seen this
scenario repeated too many times, and my heart goes out to those all those who
have had to struggle with this…”
Celebrate today!
David Arivett
CJA Network Founder
From: christianjazzgroup@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:christianjazzgroup@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of creativesoulonline
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 2:18 AM
To: christianjazzgroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [christianjazzgroup] For the Creative Soul > Your Eternal
Creative Gift
This
is a quote from author Frankey Schaeffer's book "Addicted to
Mediocrity".
I read this last week and it may just have changed my life about how I think of
my creative gifts and started me in a new direction.
Perhaps it can help you if you have ever wondered what to do, waited for
recognition, or doubted if you will ever "make it" with your talents.
--
And now a word to my fellow artists and those employed or hoping to be employed
in some professional capacity in the arts, field of expression and
communications, and also to those who, while living in different professions,
have artistic and creative urges and interests personally (therefore, I trust,
everyone).
"The world has had many kings," said his contemp orary Aretino,
"But only one Michelangelo."
Do not be discouraged. History is on your side. God has given you a talent. You
are important to him and live in the court of God, not the court of men. You
cannot wait for the Sanhedrin's approval.
By expressing yourself as an artist and by expressing those talents God has
given you, you are praising him. Whether what you express is
"religious" or "secular", as a Christian you are praising
him. Everything is his.
The church's attitude toward the arts, the narrow-mindedness of it, the demand
for slogans and justification, the utilitarianism, the programs, the
guilt-ridden view of all life is unchristian, unbiblical, ungodly, and wrong.
Do not let this suppress you, as a member of this generation of creative
people, the way it has suppressed so many in the recent past. You must press
on.
Remember that as a creative person, the important thing is to create.
Who see what you make, where it goes and what it does is a secondary
consideration; the first is to exercise the talent God has given you.
You cannot expect too much too soon. It is the lifelong body of work that
counts. It is that body of work whose expression means something and changes
cultures in which we live in terms of bearing fruit. One individual work cannot
say everything.
Your work will vary, one day to express something rather important to you
personally and perhaps less important to the world around you, perhaps another
time to wrestle with a weighty issue.
There is no right or wrong method. There is no Christian or unchristian subject
matter (except for the area of art work or expression that would deliberately
have as its primary purpose to lead people away from the truth).
You are tremendously free, you are the most free, for you have from on which to
build your freedom, you know who you are, you know where your talent comes
from, you know that you and your talent will live forever.
You know that God has placed worth on you; you know creativity, unlike so many
things in the fallen world, did not come from the Fall, but was something there
when God before he created, with him when he created, and that he has given to
man as his creature. It will be there in the new heavens and the new earth.
Your creative talent, exercised and worked on in this life, is something you
will take with you. Unlike money, or spiritual slogans, it is eternal.
Produce, produce, produce. Create, create, create. Work, work, work. This is
what we must do as Christians in the arts, with or without the support of the
church, we are to exercise our God-given talent, praise him through it, enjoy
it, bear fruit in the age in which we live.
It is a worthwhile fight, and more than a fight it is an enjoyment of a good
and gracious gift from our heavenly Father, freely given, to be enjoyed,
practiced, and treasured.
When you get discouraged as a Christian in the arts, c onsider the heritage in
which you stand. Bathe in the knowledge that for centuries Christians have
practiced and nurtured the arts with faithfulness, and that now you carry this
torch forward. Take courage from this. Take courage from the creativity and beauty
of God's world around us. Take courage from the creativity of other people.
If any single group of people are in tune with God himself, certainly it is
those Christians who enjoy, practice or simply appreciate creativity."
--
Wow, if that doesn't hit you where you live in some area as a creative person,
nothing will.
Makes you just want to go create the art YOU know God made you for doesn't it?
Well, then go do it! Quit waiting for the approval of the church, your friends,
or your spouse, and just do it.
Forget money! Forget iTunes! Forget the narrow parameters of what the secular
and church marketplace will "allow" to be presented to the world.
God gave you this gift, and this more than anything we have besides our
devotion for God is what we will work on this this life, and take and use for
ETERNITY!
Huge huh?
What an idea to think the Creator have us this gift, and that it is a pure and
eternal gift.
Get busy folks. I know I will be!
Have a great week!
EC
----
Eric Copeland is a producing, producing, producing and also creating, creating,
creating. His company Creative Soul revels in their creativity and can help you
deve lop yours. Check them out at http://www.CreativeSoulOnline.com, and also the artists
they've helped create at http://www.CreativeSoulRecords.com
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