Podcasts about all thumbs

Meet our friend Kent Heckman. The proprietor of Red Rock Studio in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, Kent is a renowned audio engineer. His client list reads like a “Who's Who” of the jazz world, including saxophonist Phil Woods, composer Bob Dorough, drummer Sherrie Maricle, and pianist Keith Jarrett. Our co-hosts enjoy a lively conversation with Kent, who shares stories from his career including the eclectic singer Nellie McKay, the Canadian folk group The Wailin' Jennys, and a live date with Jarrett. Be sure to check out Kent's work on the Jennys' award-winning album, Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, as well as Keith Jarrett's two live CDs recorded at the Deer Head Inn on ECM records. Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the show

We welcome the immensely talented Warren Cooper to our podcast. Warren is a jazz vocalist, a recording artist, and an advocate for peace and justice. A lifelong resident of Philadelphia, he counts the city's finest jazz musicians as his colleagues and friends. Warren tells us about his latest projects, including a reboot of the classic tune, “Take Five” to counter gun violence. Check this out.Music: “Take Five: Stop the Violence,” available online at https://take5stoptheviolence.com/  Used by permission of Warren Cooper.Music: “Welcome Home” from Welcome Home, Bill Carter and Warren Cooper Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop Music Support the show

Here is a live episode! Bill and Jeff meet at the Riverow Bookshop in Owego, NY to have a conversation about Bill's recent book, Thriving on a Riff: Jazz and the Spiritual Life. They have discussed the book in previous episodes but are still digging up fresh soil. Thanks to Riverow Bookshop for hosting this event! Learn more about Riverow Bookshop by clicking here.Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop MusicSupport the show

Music may come from the imagination – but there must be funding if anyone is ever going to hear it. Bill and Jeff have an honest conversation about the money that makes music heard. They discuss the importance of creating a community of supporters who support the music-making, especially for the recordings of Presbybop Music. A special shout-out to Fractured Atlas, our fiscal sponsor. They make donations possible for our work.Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.Support the show

Jeff and Bill return to talk about the art of composition. Where do composers find the inspiration for their music? Jeff asks, Bill ponders. Along the way, we hear a couple of clips from Bill's new compositions. Featured music: “Bright Sorrow” and “Celestia,” composed by Bill Carter (yet unreleased)“Dancing Girl,” composed by Bill Carter, from Dancing Day, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet.Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.Support the show

Jeff and Bill are back to discuss Bill's memory of the "top five" jazz concerts he attended. As they banter back and forth, they share brief snippets of amazing musicians that have shaped Bill's musical imagination. Music: snippets of five great musical ensembles, all recorded live.Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music. Support the show

Today, we offer a quick recap of an annual jazz worship service in Clarks Summit, PA. Co-host Bill Carter is the longtime pastor of First Presbyterian Church – and its resident jazz musician. With very little encouragement from Jeff Kellam, Bill shares a recording of his sermon for that service. Brazilian music was featured, so it's a good opportunity to reflect on the multicultural nature of jazz. It's also a good opportunity to make more room for others Music: improvisations on a Brazilian tune, as performed live by the Presbybop Quartet. Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.Support the show

Season Three begins with a burst! After a couple of minutes of catching up, Jeff Kellam shares an interview with Dante Di Stefano. He's a brilliant poet and educator with a love for John Coltrane's music. Let's listen to what he has to say.We are grateful to the Broome County of Churches, who have facilitated Jeff's interview with their “Encounter” show on WBNG-TV. Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.Support the show

Episode 41 – Jazz Comes to Church                                                                                   (June 6, 2024)Our two co-hosts talk about bringing jazz into a worship service. How and where does it fit? Bill Carter has been doing this for decades, so he shares some musical examples. Music in this episode: “Sabbath Song,” “Pass the Plate,” by Bill Carter and used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI). “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” arranged by Bill Carter. Previously unrecorded.Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.Support the Show.

I was going through some old music the other day and came across a notation that made me smile. It was written in my best elementary school cursive script and read, “Thumbelina's having trouble with her thumb.” I don't even remember what piece of music it was on, but it could have been on just about any one. I always had trouble with my thumbs. In fact, most of my music has the words “Thumbs up” in my teacher's handwriting somewhere on the page. I am double jointed, not to any circus freak level but in the more or less usual way. My thumbs bend backwards at the first knuckle. It's not a big deal, not unless you're a harpist, that is. It took me until I was sixteen to finally learn how to control my thumbs and have them play properly. What I learned in the process was exactly how crucial our thumbs are for our harp playing. Our thumbs actually have the ability to free our fingers to be relaxed and supple; used another way, our thumbs can just about immobilize our hands. They can play ringing melody notes or trip us up in a scale. A simple repositioning of your thumb can make all your other fingers sound better.  So we are all thumbs, or maybe it would be better to say, everything you need to know about your thumb, on the podcast today. We'll talk about how the position of your thumb affects the rest of your fingers and how a “long and strong” thumb can make everything you play a little easier and a lot prettier. And I'll share 10 things you need to know about how your thumb works and how to make it work better. Links to things I think you might be interested in that were mentioned in the podcast episode:  Join the My Harp Mastery community today. Watch our Unveiling Party video on YouTube to check out our new website. Related resource: Beautiful Thumbs or All Thumbs? blog post Harpmastery.com Get involved in the show! Send your questions and suggestions for future podcast episodes to me at podcast@harpmastery.com  LINKS NOT WORKING FOR YOU? FInd all the show resources here: https://www.harpmastery.com/blog/Episode-157  

In this musical episode, Bill Carter and Jeff Kellam discuss the development (or redevelopment) of old material, musical or otherwise. Bill introduces a suite of four tunes originally composed for a 2001 concert at Binghamton (NY) University. He has recently revised and updated them for a jazz sextet, and we hear the second “premiere” of the music. Enjoy – there's a lot of music.Music in this episode: “Suite SUNY” by Bill Carter and used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI). Previously unrecorded.Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.  Support the Show.

Here is our first “Mailbag Episode,” where Bill Carter and Jeff Kellam address a burning question from one from our listeners: Which is better? Live jazz or jazz recorded in the studio? Our two raconteurs discuss this, and demonstrate the difference between the studio recording of Bill's tune, “Rumpelstiltskin” and a very recent live concert recording. Can you hear the difference? We think you can.Any more questions? Send them to office (at) presbybop (dot) com.Music in this episode: “Rumpelstiltskin” from Interior Window, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet. Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.Support the Show.

Jeff asked Bill, "Is composing a new book like composing a jazz tune?" What follows is a lively conversation about writing Thriving on a Riff: Jazz and the Spiritual Life. How was the book put together? What was the process? How is the composition of the book an expression of creativity? Be sure to give this episode a listen. And if you are so inclined, contact our preferred bookseller and get your copy of the book by clicking here.Music on this episode:“Refracted Light” by Bill Carter, recorded on Interior Window by Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet. Used by permission. © Presbybop Music (BMI)Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.Support the Show.

There are many extraordinary souls in the jazz community. Here is one to know: Ike Sturm. He is a bassist, composer, band leader, and creative spirit. What fun to speak with him about his formation as a musician, his creation of a jazz mass, and his earth-honoring duo called "Endless Field." It's a perfect episode for Earth Day - or Earth Year.Music: "Gloria" from JazzMass, composed by Ike Sturm"The Well," from Alive in the Wilderness, Endless Field.Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.Support the Show.

BONUS - For Holy Week, we offer a re-broadcast of a previous episode. What does jazz have to do with Jerusalem? Especially the Jerusalem that Jesus entered for the last week of his life? That's the topic explored in this episode. Our co-hosts discuss the moods and senstitivities for a week of struggle and pain. They share live clips from the Presbybop Quartet as the band interpreted the passion of Jesus in a Good Friday jazz vespers at a large church near Philadelphia. They also offer a musical depiction of a Bible story in collaboration with Dennis Dewey, renowned biblical storyteller.Featured music: "The Last Word" (live version) from Psalms without Words, "Who's on Trial?" from John According to Jazz, "O Sacred Head Now Wounded" (unreleased), and "Arimathea" (unreleased).  Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop QuartetMusic used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Announcer: Chris Norton(c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

In this episode, our co-hosts explore some of the themes from Thriving on a Riff: Jazz and the Spiritual Life, Bill Carter's new book. They chat about creativity, the power of suffering, and the hard work of spiritual formation in jazz and faith. Along the way, they share a bit of music.Be sure to check out Thriving on a Riff. You can find out more online at https://presbybop.com/thriving-on-a-riff. Read a sample chapter or two, Watch a video. Find the project blog (with links to more videos). And you can order your own copy when it is released on April 23, 2024.Music in this episode: "Bill's New Song," recorded on Psalms Without Words, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet. © Presbybop Music (BMI). Used by permission."Let Them Go, Set Them Free," recorded on Interior Window, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet.  © Presbybop Music (BMI). Used by permission.Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet. © Presbybop Music. Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris NortonSupport the Show.

This episode continues our lively conversation with pianist Bill Mays. We explore his writing (and sometimes, his lack of “writing”) for the jazz trio. Bill shares some of the ways that he cultivates creativity in his life and tells us about his book of musical stories. Then the conversation moves from the podcast studio to the performing stage, as co-host Bill Carter asks the Mays Trio to tell us what it's like to make music together. Between all the talking, we share excerpts of a live trio performance of the Mays tune, “Sun of the East.”  Music in this episode:“Sun of the East,” composed by Bill Mays © No Blooze Music, recorded live in performance and used by permission. All rights reserved. Bill's music is available at www.billmays.net.We recommend Bill's book, Stories of the Road, the Studios, Sidemen, and the Singers, also available on www.billmays.net.Interested in hearing Bill's two-hour show on “A Brief History of Jazz”? You can enjoy it on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZCWXXNYzggTheme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.Support the Show.

We welcome pianist Bill Mays in the first of two episodes. He moves easily between the jazz and classical spheres as a composer, arranger, performer, and recording artist. Bill tells us about his artistic development, his experience performing with jazz stars, and the inspiration behind his music. He also shares two of his winsome tunes. Bill will return in Episode 35. Music in this episode:“Whistling Pastor” composed by Bill Mays © No Blooze Music, used by permission. All rights reserved.“Snow Job” composed by Bill Mays © No Blooze Music, used by permission. All rights reserved.Both tunes recorded on “Mays Plays Mays.” Available at www.billmays.net. Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.Support the Show.

Jazz performances are different every single time! Even if forty percent of the music (or more) is written down, each fresh performance varies. Bill and Jeff explore this curious aspect of jazz as they listen to studio and live recordings of two tunes recorded by the Presbybop Quartet: “Welcome Home” and “Streams of Mercy.” “Welcome Home” has been recorded on the “Fragile Incarnation” and “Welcome Home” CDs. "Streams of Mercy" appeared on the "Interior Windo" CD. Both © Presbybop Music (BMI). Used by permission. Archival copies of live performances © Presbybop Music (BMI). Used by permission.Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.Support the Show.

 We welcome bassist David Chevan and pianist Warren Byrd. As co-founders of the Afro-Semitic Experience, they have created a dynamic ensemble rooted in the holy work of liberation. Whether they are updating African American spirituals, rearranging Jewish songs, or creating new music of their own, they will model what it means for jazz to address the work of justice. This show coincides with the long-awaited release of their album, “Our Feet Began to Pray.” Be sure to check it out at https://afrosemiticexperience.net/  Warren and David have given us permission to include two cuts from the album on our podcast:“Unity in the Community” “My Feet Began to Pray” © The Afro-Semitic Experience. Music used by permission. Order the album at the link above!Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music. Support the Show.

At the beginning of a new year, Jeff and Bill discuss their big projects. CLASSIC VINYL JAZZ is Jeff's new radio show on the internet. He loves going through the LPs in his attic and sharing them with a new generation. The show broadcasts on Friday nights from 9 to 10 p.m. eastern on WBDY-LP and repeated on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m. eastern (link below).Bill unveils his book project, THRIVING ON A RIFF: JAZZ AND THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. It will be published on Broadleaf Books on April 23, 2024. We will be hearing more about the book.To tune in to Jeff's radio show, go to https://www.bundymuseum.org/wbdy.To learn more about Bill's book, go to https://presbybop.com/thriving-on-a-riffMusic in this episode: “Haunted Landscape,” Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quintet, from “Psalms Without Words.” Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton© Presbybop Music.Support the Show.

In this special Christmas episode, Jeff Kellam tracks down Bill Carter on the Presbybop Quintet International Tour of New England. You will get a behind-the-scenes introduction to the music and good humor of a working jazz group. The band was performing holiday music to enthusiastic audiences, and clips of rehearsal and performance music fill the podcast.We are grateful to the following venues:Family Promise of Greater Concord, NHWolfeboro Friends of Music, Wolfeboro, NHThe First Baptist Church in America, Providence, RISchorr Family Firehouse Stage, Johnson City, NYAll music in the public domain, arranged and performed live by the Presbybop Quintet. Music clips include: "Angels We Have Heard on High""O Come, O Come, Emmanuel""I Wonder as I Wander""What Child Is This""Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"(c) Presbybop MusicTheme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

On this episode, Jeff and Bill have a conversation with Chris Norton, senior vice president of WVIA-FM and a longtime friend of Presbybop Music. They discuss the current scene in jazz radio and the unique resource that radio has always been for creative music. Chris introduces us to Chiaroscuro jazz label, now owned by WVIA, and available online as a media stream. All three of them pay homage to George Graham, the legendary radio host and engineer at WVIA. Featured links:To listen to WVIA-FM: https://www.wvia.org/ To connect with Chiaroscuro or listen online: https://chiaroscurojazz.org/ To learn more about George Graham: https://georgegraham.com/  Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop Music Support the Show.

With the Thanksgiving holiday at hand, Jeff and Bill reflect on the virtue of gratitude. Along the way, they recount the moments when they have offered thanks for the jazz tradition. Bill tells the stirring story of how Dave Brubeck composed a piece for the Polish people after he visited the home of Frederic Chopin. That piece is titled "Thank You."Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop QuartetMusic used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Announcer: Chris Norton(c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Sherrie Maricle is a triple threat: drummer, bandleader, and composer. With her bands Sherrie has performed at many of the world's most acclaimed music venues and festivals, from Lincoln Center to the Kennedy Center and the Hollywood Bowl, to Jazz Festivals in Germany, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Ireland, England, Croatia, Japan, Vietnam, and Israel and beyond. More than that, she is our friend. And we love her positive spirit. To learn more about her life and music, go to https://sherriemaricle.com/ Music: “The Rhythm Changes,” composed and arranged by Sherrie Maricle, performed by The Diva Jazz Orchestra, The 25th Anniversary Project. Used by permission.Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

 This episode explores a most unusual resource for a jazz-shaped life: the Psalms of Israel. Jeff Kellam asks Bill Carter about this connection and how it shaped a set of  thirty new jazz compositions. Sadness, yearning, joy, ecstasy are all deep emotions which find expression in music. Drawing on his "psalms without words" project, Bill explains how those feelings emerge in jazz.Music: "Psalm 116” field recording, Stornoway, UK; “Haunted Landscape,” “Liars,” “Iona Morning,” "Everybody Dance,” from Psalms Without Words, all composed by Bill Carter and recorded by Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet. Music © Presbybop Music (BMI) and used by permission. Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop Music Support the Show.

Today we remember Al Hamme, celebrate his life, and lament his passing. A mentor to co-host Bill Carter, he was a co-founder of Bill's Presbybop Quartet. Co-host Jeff Kellam also enjoyed a great friendship with Al, stretching back almost sixty years. For over thirty years, he has been a strong advocate of jazz as an expression of the spiritual life.A virtuoso woodwind artist, Al was an extraordinary teacher. His performing resume reads like a Who's Who in the jazz world. So does the listing of the musicians that he taught and influenced. We celebrate his good life and we draw on the resources of jazz as a way of saying goodbye – and thank you.  Music: "Rosie's Stomp” from Stand On Your Head, “Ebo's Waltz” from Interior Window, and “Heartsick” from Psalms Without Words, all composed by Bill Carter and recorded by Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet. Music © Presbybop Music (BMI) and used by permission. Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop Music Support the Show.

Here are three more tunes to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Faith in a New Key, the first recording by the Presbybop Quartet. Music: “Dawn Shall Break Again,” “A Canticle of Love,” and Amazing Grace,” all composed or arranged by Bill Carter and released on Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet. Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

On the 25th anniversary of its release, Bill and Jeff have a conversation about Faith in a New Key, the first recording of the Presbybop Quartet. Bill dishes on the background of the album. Where did it originate? Who were the players? How was the project financed? What was it like to record the music?  Along the way, they serve up a generous helping of jazz. Music: "Presbybop," "Route 206," "Walking in Somebody Else's Footsteps," and "A Bridge Between", all composed by Bill Carter and released on Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet. Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop QuartetMusic used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Announcer: Chris Norton(c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

As we begin Season 2, Jeff Kellam asks Bill Carter to speak about his work in syncopating Christian worship services. Bill has been at it for forty years, ever since he was a student pastor in New Jersey. Along the way, the co-hosts offer some musical samples as they explore a long and ongoing journey of welcoming jazz in the sanctuary.Discover the "Swing a New Song to the Lord" jazz hymnal at www.presbybop.com.You can find the film "Jazz Belongs in Church" at https://presbybop.com/jazz-belongs-in-church-dvdMusic: "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah," and "Down By the Riverside,"  (c) Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet. Unreleased material. Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop QuartetMusic used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Announcer: Chris Norton(c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Before Lucas sets out for vacation, he and Will get together for the 200th time to talk about an Arthur episode. It's the supposedly controversial topic of thumb-sucking in "All Thumbs," followed by the Arthur version of leftist infighting in "Kidonia," plus bad advice from children, Lucas' secret habit, Kid Nation, and a reflection on the big 2-0-0. Thank you for supporting us!! If you'd like to help us out, please go to vote.thecoast.ca and nominate us in the Best Podcast category!

We conclude Season 1 of the Spirit of Jazz with a conversation with Donny McCaslin. Twice nominated for a Grammy for "Best Improvised Solo," Donny speaks about three musicians with whom he has performed and recorded: trumpeter Dave Douglas, composer Maria Schneider, and music icon David Bowie. Along the way he talks about the healing power of jazz in his own life. "Improvising has been my lifeline," he says.Find out more about Donny at his website: https://www.donnymccaslin.com/Check out his new album, "I Want More," available here on Edition Records.Music: " Christmas Carol in G Minor," Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet with guest soloist Donny McCaslin, recorded at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, NYC"Body Blow," Donny McCaslin, from "I Want More". Available  above and used by permission. Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Bagpipes, a bullfrog, an untuned diva, a fumbling virtuoso, an unfortunate drummer, bad road food, and a bebopper in a turban: jazz has the capacity to see life's idiocyncrasies and laugh about them. There is a lightness of spirit at the heart of improvised music. And the practitioners love to joke and laugh. In this episode, we explore the comedy of good jazz.Want to hear more jazz comedy? We recommend Jazz Anecdotes by the bassist Bill Crow.Featured music:“Rumpelstiltskin" from Interior WindowMusic used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop QuartetMusic used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Announcer: Chris Norton(c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Meet our friend Deanna Witkowski. Known for her adventurous, engaging music that heals the soul, Witkowski moves with remarkable ease between Brazilian, jazz, classical, and sacred music. Witkowski's performances combine virtuosity and heart, telling stories that reveal her innate curiosity of the human condition.Her first book, Mary Lou Williams: Music For The Soul (Liturgical Press), published in September 2021, is the winner of the 2022 ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award and the 2022 Jazz Journalists Association Award for Biography of the Year.Her seventh recording, Force of Nature (MCG Jazz), released in January 2022, reached number five on the JazzWeek nationwide radio chart and remained in the top 10 most played albums on jazz radio for more than 10 weeks. A frequent winner of composition competitions for her concert and sacred choral pieces, Witkowski has received funding for new work from the New York State Council on the Arts (for her Afro-Brazilian project, the Nossa Senhora Suite) and the Choral Arts Initiative PREMIERE Project Festival.We thank Deanna for permission to include clips of two of her original tunes: “Wide Open Window” from Wide Open Window. © Tilapia Tunes, used by permission. “Force of Nature” from Force of Nature. © Tilapia Tunes, used by permission.Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Our old buddy Sean Marciniak (GooseVonKaiser on Twitch) returns to discuss undead marvels of technological evil in episode 6 of Toei's Spider-Man entitled, "The Hair-Raising Laboratory! The Devil Known as Professor Monster!" Join us as we chat about new cat litter, OJ, fantasy tropes, mother in-laws, rag dolls, "Blood Diner", zombies, Zoombinis, being veiny, freeze frames, weird fight scenes, Juggalos, All Thumbs!, geese, & more! Want to hear more from your favorite Marsh Land Media hosts? Hear exclusive shows, podcasts, and content by heading to Patreon.com/MLMpod! Have fan mail, fan art, projects you want us to review, or whatever you want to send us? You can ship directly to us using "James McCollum, PO Box 180036, 2011 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618"! Please, learn about Black Lives Matter, the protests, and find ways to donate at https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/. Follow the podcast on Facebook & Twitter @MSSPod, on Instagram @MSSPodcast! Watch James' "Mostly Playin' PlayStation" and our live streams on the MSS YouTube channel! On top of streaming on Facebook & YouTube, we also simul-stream at Twitch.tv/MostlySpeakinSentai! Listen to James' rap music under Marsh Land Monster on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, & more by clicking HERE. Send us a voice mail to be played on the show at ‪(773) 270-0490‬! Nicole's Patreon is live! Check out www.Patreon.com/DarlingHombody for more details! Plus, head over to www.DarlingHomebody.com for all her art, the web comic Crumb Bums we make together, buy her merchandise, & watch her draw Gorma creations from the podcast! You can also buy her artwork on shirts and more on threadless.com/@darlinghomebody! Find her @DarlingHomebody on Instagram, Tumblr and Etsy! Buy her wares! Go purchase some of our original Sentai monster designs on RedBubble then post a pic on social media of you wearing the threads!www.redbubble.com/people/MSSPod/portfolio Find out more about James' other podcasts "Shuffling the Deck", "Sweet Child of Time", "Hit It & Crit It", and "This Movie's Gay" on our website, www.MLMPod.com!!! Plus, download James' albums!

What does it take to make a living as a jazz musician? Where do you work - and how do you line it up? Jeff Stockham, the extraordinary trumpeter and French horn player, tells it straight. With honesty and good humor, he tells our co-hosts about the joys and struggles of jazz employment. And all of us catch a glimpse of his perseverance as he offers his art to improve the lives of others.Featured music: “I've Heard the News" from Stand on Your Head"Kit and Kaboodle" from Stand on Your HeadMusic used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Here is our report from the First International Tour of Southeastern Virginia, a brief tour by the Presbybop Quintet. The band was accompanied by its entourage, namely Jeff Kellam. We chat it up with band members and old acquaintances. Stories are told, passions are revealed, and road food is endured. The emerging theme is friendship – what musicians refer to as “The Hang” (as in “hanging out”). The music was great, because The Hang was happening.  Featured music: “Rumpelstiltskin” from Interior WindowMusic used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

What does jazz have to do with Jerusalem? Especially the Jerusalem that Jesus entered for the last week of his life? That's the topic explored in this episode. Our co-hosts discuss the moods and senstitivities for a week of struggle and pain. They share live clips from the Presbybop Quartet as the band interpreted the passion of Jesus in a Good Friday jazz vespers at a large church near Philadelphia. They also offer a musical depiction of a Bible story in collaboration with Dennis Dewey, renowned biblical storyteller.Featured music: "The Last Word" (live version) from Psalms without Words, "Who's on Trial?" from John According to Jazz, "O Sacred Head Now Wounded" (unreleased), and "Arimathea" (unreleased).  Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop Music Support the Show.

This bonus episode is a conversation about the different kinds of jazz. Bill and Jeff discuss how a tradition continues to live: evolving through creative imagination, influenced by its historical and cultural circumstances. Featured music: “This or That” and “Everybody Dance” from Psalms without WordsMusic used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop Music Support the Show.

Episode 15 – That's a Terrible Idea. What Time?           Here's part two of our conversation with Matt Wilson, the creative drummer. He believes jazz should challenge the audience, not merely playing what's “nice.” Whether it's leading the audience on a spontaneous march out of the concert hall or nudging the listeners to go deeper into the music, he always leads the way. And he's a lot of fun to talk with. Check out Matt's website at https://www.mattwilsonjazz.com/ Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Matt Wilson is an extraordinary musician. We talk about his sense of humor, his willingness to take risks, and the importance of vulnerability. The conversation hummed along quickly – and we've split it into two episodes. Check out Matt's website at https://www.mattwilsonjazz.com/ Featured music: “Ice Cold” from Jazz for the EarthBill Carter and the Presbybop SextetDavid Liebman, guest soloistTheme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Our cohosts talk about how they developed a taste in jazz. Bill Carter tells how he met and befriended Dave Brubeck. (Imagine the legendary musician in a white bathrobe!) Jeff Kellam recounts his love of big band music and how it opened the jazz world to him. How did you discover jazz? Have a story to share? Send it to us at podcast@presbybop.com.  Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

In this episode we explore the blues. How does the blues get into the bloodstream of jazz? What does this suggest about human life and the spiritual life? How might the blues express our suffering? Or pray our hope? Here's where you can view the chart that Mary Lou Williams used to describe the lineage of jazz: https://jazzwomenarchives.wordpress.com/2019/01/21/mary-lou-williams/ Here's the YouTube clip where Damien Sneed demonstrates Gospel music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SepVdCiM2ek Featured music:“Down Goes Babylon” from Dancing Day, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)“Out of the Depths” from Psalms Without Words, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet.   Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)“Coventry Carol” from Fragile Incarnation, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

We explore a little-known jazz story: Vince Guaraldi composed and performed a mass! We talk with Derrick Bang, his biographer, about the creation of this music. It was presented at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, in May 1965. It's an extraordinary story and we're glad to tell it.Want to hear the mass? The highlights were recorded by Fantasy Records, and you can obtain that recording by clicking here. (The MP3 files are more readily available than the CD or LP.)To learn more about Derrick's connection to Vince Guaraldi, visit his page at  http://fivecentsplease.org/dpb/guaraldi.htmlWant to learn more about our 50th anniversary celebration at Grace Cathedral in 2015? Derrick has a lengthy series of accounts listed below:  http://impressionsofvince.blogspot.com/2015/06/mass-appeal-chapter-2.html. http://impressionsofvince.blogspot.com/2015/07/mass-appeal-chapter-3.htmlhttp://impressionsofvince.blogspot.com/2015/08/mass-appeal-chapter-4.htmlhttp://impressionsofvince.blogspot.com/2015/08/an-afternoon-of-grace.htmlhttp://impressionsofvince.blogspot.com/2015/08/mass-appeal-chapter-5.html http://impressionsofvince.blogspot.com/2015/09/east-coast-grace.htmlAnd we suggest subscribing to blog of All Things Guaraldi at http://impressionsofvince.blogspot.com/You can get your own copy of Vince Guaraldi at the Piano by clicking here on Amazon or clicking here for the publisher's page. We have additional material of our conversation with Derrick which we will release as a bonus podcast in the future. Featured music:“Blues in F,” performed by Bill Carter with the Jim Martinez Trio at the 50th anniversary of the Guaraldi Mass, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, accompanied by the Jim Martinez trio. Music is unreleased. © Presbybop Music.Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

“The only time we heard jazz on television when I was a kid,” says trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, “was when A Charlie Brown Christmas came to town.” Our guest for the next two episodes is Derrick Bang, music critic and author of Vince Guaraldi at the Piano. As Guaraldi's biographer, he has a unique perspective on how the pianist's music became an integral part of the animated Charlie Brown specials. You can get your own copy of Vince Guaraldi at the Piano by clicking here on Amazon or clicking here for the publisher's page.Featured music:“Jamming on Three Chords,” an unreleased live recording, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Christmas Eve Band. Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) “O Tannenbaum,” public domain, arranged by Bill Carter and the Presbybop Christmas Eve Band. Unreleased live recording. Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet  Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

In this special episode, we offer musical highlights from the annual Jazz Christmas Eve event at First Presbyterian Church, Clarks Summit, PA. Our Presbybop Elves include Mike Carbone on saxophone, Tony Marino on bass, Marko Marcinko on drums, and Bill Carter on piano. Want to enjoy the video of the event? Go to https://youtu.be/xLqiV51k5t4Featured music:Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming, from Jazz Noel, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Christmas Eve BandAngels We Have Heard on High, recorded live on Christmas EveWe Wish You a Merry Christmas, recorded live on Christmas EveTheme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Jazz is embodied music. Ideas take flesh! This is a grand spiritual theme, of course, and lies at the heart of Christmas story. But what does incarnation sound like? That's what this episode is all about. And we have the music to prove it. Here's the free verse poem that Bill composed:  When Wordtakes fleshit is a fragileIncarnation.Power becomes subject to weakness,Freedom is chained by time,Fools compromise Wisdom,Death crouches behind the Door.Still we discern a Way Through the dark,giving, embracing, lovingrisking all.And joy finds us. Featured music:Away in a Manger, from Jazz Noel, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Christmas Eve BandWhat Child is This, from Fragile Incarnation, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Sussex Carol, from Fragile Incarnation, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet  Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet   Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

What can jazz suggest to us about hope? Good question for all times of year, but especially for the season of Advent. We explore the question with two ancient chants as our soundtrack. Along the way, we chew on two poignant quotations:   “It is in the torment of the insufficiency of everything attainable in this life that we realize that all symphonies remain unfinished.”  - Karl Rahner “Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we must be saved by love. No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as it is from our standpoint. Therefore we must be saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.” - Reinhold Niebuhr, The Irony of American History Featured music: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” from Jazz Noel, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Christmas Eve Band“Creator of the Stars of Night” from Fragile Incarnation, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet “Shadows Into Light” from The Dancing Calvinist, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quintet Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Today we welcome Jamie Howison to The Spirit of Jazz. He is a priest of the Anglican Church of Canada, a jazz lover, and a kindred soul. He lives and works in Winnipeg. We discovered Jamie through one of his books, God's Mind in That Music: Theological Explorations through the Music of John Coltrane. It's an extraordinary book, published on Cascade Books. You can find it by clicking here. Check out his website at www.jamiehowison.caFeatured music: “Elegy” from Jazz for the EarthBill Carter and the Presbybop SextetDavid Liebman, guest soloist.Featured music: “Ice Cold” from Jazz for the EarthBill Carter and the Presbybop SextetDavid Liebman, guest soloist Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Here is another conversation about creativity. Do new melodies - and ideas - comes as a message from Headquarters? This is a mystery, of course, but we continue to chase it. We listen to a jazz performance of an old melody from Ireland. And we hear how Dave Brubeck turned down a commission to compose for a papal mass - and then dreamed up the piece while he slept. You can click here and listen to him tell the story.Bill also recounts a story from Herbie Hancock about a wrong chord, transformed by ingenuity. Here is the link to hear Herbie tell the story. Featured music: “Be Thou My Vision” from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop QuartetTheme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

We heard someone grumble, “We've never heard jazz in church before.” It reminds us of an insulting letter from a noted preacher, disparaging jazz as inferior music. Both assume there's a hard line between “sacred” and “secular” that must never be crossed. But jazz steps over those divisions.  Bach dedicated his musical manuscripts to God, even if they had no lyrics. Dave Brubeck reminds us how Bach, his favorite musician, adapted drinking songs because the congregation knew them. The Holy can find us anywhere, on bar stool or church pew. Some musicians affirm they've been found, and the best evidence may be the Christmas story, when the Holy is found on earth. So we offer a burning version of a jazz Christmas carol. It will melt the icicles of the coldest heart!Featured music: “Joy to the World” from Jazz Noel, The Presbybop Christmas Eve BandTheme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Jazz unfolds like a conversation! It's a dialogue with a tune, with other musicians, with the imagination. The music values relationships, teamwork, collaboration, and mutual participation. We explore the reality of the “Muse” - inspiration personified - and revealed in the necessary ingredient of playfulness. And yes, there's something mysterious at work. So let's chase after it. Featured music: “I Lost My Keys in Kennedy Airport,” unreleased live recordingTheme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

In this musical episode, we offer two complete performances of jazz tunes that have a bit of mystery.“Dawn Shall Break Again” was the centerpiece of our Faith in a New Key album. “The Gate is Narrow, the Road is Hard” is a live performance from Binghamton University. It's never been released, but a studio version of the tune does appear on our Stand On Your Head recording.  Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Jazz is more than a style. It's a tradition, filled with imagination, interpretation, and improvisation. We explore the curious practice of creating music as it proceeds. How does that work? We learn by listening, so we offer a tune from a Presbybop Quartet album.Along the way, Jeff Kellam refers to a luminous biography of Mary Lou Williams by Deanna Witkowski, the equally luminous jazz pianist. We will talk to Deanna in a future episode. In the meantime, we highly recommend Mary Lou Williams: Music for the Soul.  Order it here.   Featured music: “This or That” from Psalms Without WordsTheme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Welcome to our first episode! Bill Carter and Jeff Kellam introduce the theme of this podcast and tell you something about themselves. This is a podcast about the spiritual power of syncopated music. How might music awaken, enrich, and empower our lives? How might jazz direct us toward acts of love, justice, and mercy?  That's what we want to explore. Tell us how you fell in love with jazz. Send an email to podcast@presbybop.com. Music: "Ebo's Waltz" from Interior Window, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Theme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop QuartetMusic used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)Announcer: Chris Norton(c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

Here's one thing that musicians and listeners have in common: the possibility of a transcendent moment. Bill tells a treasured family story about a Louis Armstrong concert in 1955. In many ways, that concert shaped his destiny even before he was alive. Jazz has a special super power to make a room come alive. We hear about the experience of bassist Christian McBride, performing with pianist McCoy Tyner. And we recall a “moment” marked by Thomas Merton, the monk who was a jazz lover. And if that isn't enough, our friend David Liebman (deemed a Jazz Master by the National Endowment of the Arts) reveals what he aims for as a creative musician. Featured music: “Welcome Home” from Welcome HomeTheme music: "All Thumbs" from Faith in a New Key, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI) Announcer: Chris Norton (c) Presbybop MusicSupport the Show.

We are glad to announce The Spirit of Jazz podcast with co-hosts Bill Carter and Jeff Kellam. Thanks for finding us! We invite you to subscribe to future episodes as we explore the spiritual dimensions of the music. This is the podcast where music dances with mystery.The Spirit of Jazz is a production of Presbybop Music.  In each episode, we explore how music has the power to bring us alive.Theme music: "All Thumbs" by Bill Carter and the Presbybop QuartetHost: Chris NortonSupport the Show.

Is your thumb timid or a tyrant? We harpists rely on our thumbs - just try playing a scale without them. They are our longest fingers and undoubtedly our strongest. They double our reach on the harp strings. But how musical are your thumbs? In this episode, I will show you how your thumbs can be expressive with a supple, fluid sound that can make a melody sing or blend in beautifully with your other fingers, and how to fix common thumb problems. Links to things I think you might be interested in that were mentioned in the podcast episode: Four Weeks to Finger Freedom course Beautiful Thumbs or All Thumbs? blog post: Harpmastery.com

Selected Scriptures Series: Centers and Circumferences #13 # Introduction I have always believed in the value of naming things well. When we arrived in Marysville in 2001, the name of the youth ministry was "GY" - Grace Youth. I thought we could do better. A website I really liked at the time was called *antithesis.com* (which, for what it's worth, is where I read “What Would Jesus Drink?” that convicted me about my lack of drinking wine. Not only that, but anthesis turned out to be a major emphasis in Kuyper's life though I had never heard of him at that point). The antithesis is the opposite, the contrast with something else. At the time I decided that I didn't want to focus on the negative, to act as if someone else could claim the center, the thesis, to which we had to respond. Did we really want to be known for what we were against? Over the last year we've heard a new push. We are being exhorted with a modern demand (actually with *many* demands, but there's one in particular). We are told that it's bad to be just not a racist, we are told we must be *anti-racist*. Part of what they mean is that we need to spend more time proactively thinking about how wrong it is, not just dealing with it when it comes up. I don't agree with what "they" mean by anti-racist, but I'm beginning to think there is a lesson for Christians here, a lesson that Abraham Kuyper helps with. I first gave a biographical message about Kuyper at a TECY retreat in 2014, and then shared that biography at an evening service later that year called “[All Thumbs](https://subsplash.com/trinityevangelchurch/lb/mi/+yzm3qfh).” There is real importance in biographies, and history. God's Word itself makes a certain sort of biography *necessary* for obedience: > Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7) When I started paying more attention to biographies I remember hearing John Piper talk about how he had an instructor who encouraged his students to select one theologian and make that man his mission to know. I haven't written it down, but I have a tentative goal of reading everything Kuyper ever wrote that gets translated into English. I've been reading 5 minutes most days for a few years of something by Kuyper. I'm not even close to finishing what's been translated, and I'm less close to finishing appreciating what he did. # Kuyper's Profile He was born in 1837 in Holland, the first son of Jan Fredrick and Henriette Kuyper. (For some world history context, Charles Spurgeon was born three years earlier, Mark Twain two years before, John D. Rockefeller two years after, and Claude Monet three years after.) "Bram" was a preacher's kid, but his pastor-dad did not committed whole-heartedly to orthodoxy. Jan's liberal faith and ministry were typical of the time and Abraham grew up despising the church. > In the years of my youth the Church aroused my aversion more than my affection. … I felt repulsed rather than attracted. … [T]he deceit, the hypocrisy, the unspiritual routine that sap the lifeblood of our whole ecclesiastical fellowship were most lamentably prevalent. ("Confidentiality", 46) The Kuyper family moved to the city of Leiden largely for the grade school that "followed the traditional classical curriculum of immersing students in the humanities and languages" (Bratt), though a recent Wikipedia edit says he was homeschooled. He entered the University of Leiden when he was 18 years old to study theology of the anti-supernatural strain. He graduated when he was 21, started doctoral work, had his first (of three) nervous breakdown in 1961, and then graduated with his doctorate when he was 25. What sort of job did he pursue? A pastorate. But his was an intellectual "faith," a ministry of scholarly sentences and sentimentality until he came to the little town of Beesd. During his schooling at Leiden he met Johanna Hendrika Schaay whom he married in 1863 when he was 26. Throughout their multi-year courtship he felt like Jo was not educated enough, so he kept sending her books to help her be more cultured. In the summer of 1863, newly married and newly bestowed as Doctor of Theology, he moved to Beesd. I'm not sure how large the congregation in Beesd was, but there was a minority group in the church who disliked Kuyper from the start and kept their distance from him. The rest of the members told Kuyper not to worry about "them," but he felt like he needed to serve them. So he started visiting them and, strangely, he said that he found himself wanting to listen rather than speak. These were people who believed the Bible was God's Word and that Christ was Savior and Lord. Kuyper wrote as part of his testimony: > I observed that they were not intent on winning my sympathy but on the triumph of their cause. They knew of no compromise or concession, and more and more I found myself confronted with a painful choice: either sharply resist them or unconditionally join them in a principled recognition of "full sovereign grace" — as they called it— without leaving room for even the tiniest safety valves in which I sought refuge. Well, dear brother, I did not oppose them and I still thank God that I made that choice. Their unremitting perseverance has become the blessing of my heart, the rise of the morning star for my life. ("Confidentiality", 56) As a pastor he finally got *saved*! After his regeneration and reeducation in Reformation theology, it “left him with a daunting personal agenda. Where should he begin? What should he *not* do?” (Bratt, 59). After a while he was called to a larger church in Utrecht (1867), then to even larger Amsterdam (1870). As he labored to exhort the Christians to exert their influence in the city and throughout the nation, he realized that much work was needed inside the church. In 1887 he helped start a new denomination of churches called the Doleerende Kerk, from a Latin term meaning sorrow, so "The Sorrowing Church." His book, _Our Worship_, is a manual for understanding the whys and whats of liturgy. Though he never said it in a single sentence, he believed that culture starts with worship because people are shaped into likeness of what or Who they worship; more than *homo sapiens*, “rational” men, we are *homo adorans*, a “worshipping” species. That book is one of the reasons why I can't stop talking about the church as an *assembly*. He had also realized that much work was needed *outside* the church. He knew that there is *no neutrality*, there is thesis and antithesis. In particular, a teacher necessarily starts his lesson plans believing that God is central or that man is central. Kuyper began to speak and write for the freedom and support of Christian grade schools. He worked to establish a base of support, then to establish government laws, and also to educate educators. He rallied parents and teachers at school convention meetings. He also realized that Christians needed a place for further more training, a place for research. Christians needed a university. Every subject, not just theology, should be pursued for Christ: philosophy, law, literature, art, politics, medicine, science. So he helped to found the Free University of Amsterdam in 1880 with only eight students and five professors, himself included. Before that, in 1871 he became the editor in chief of a once-weekly paper called De Heraut, "The Herald." But shortly after, he realized that this was not enough. So he founded and edited a daily newspaper, De Standaard, "The Standard," in 1872 in order to inform and rally the Christian public. He wrote his last article in December 1919, ending a 47 year career as a journalist. Notably he was invited in 1898 by B.B. Warfield to give a series of lectures at Princeton University, which became _Lectures on Calvinism_ (and [here's the link to a free audiobook version](http://trinityevangel.org/kuypers-lectures/) if you're interested). It is reported that Warfield learned Dutch just so that he could read Kuyper. But the thing I'd like to talk about for just a bit more relates to Kuyper's life in politics. # Kuyper's Party - AntiRevolutionary He arrived in Amsterdam (1870) as a pastor but within a short time people persuaded Abraham that he could and should use his leadership in the national government. He served in both the upper and lower houses of Dutch Parliament. He was convinced that the government was a good sphere, as in a sphere established by God. He also believed that government worked best when it recognized God, submitting to His supremacy and His standards. Again, there is no neutrality. So the state should protect marriage and family, punish those who do evil, encourage Christian worship and morality, and support Christians educating the next generation. Kuyper argued that government should be driven at the local level and that the federal government should be representative, not a bunch of detached so-called experts. Kuyper appreciated the United States in this regard. But the government of Holland was *not* like this; a change was needed. So Kuyper helped form and presided over the **Antirevolutionary Party**. Think Kanye's "[Birthday Party](https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2020/07/08/kanye-west-says-hes-done-with-trump-opens-up-about-white-house-bid-damaging-biden-and-everything-in-between/?sh=1e4a28b547aa)," but more serious. The book is titled, _Our Program: A Christian Political Manifesto_. It was published as regular features in De Standaard from April 1878 to March 1879, collected into a book later in 1879. An antirevolutionary stood opposed to the ideology embodied in the French Revolution of 1789 (less than a hundred years between). Kuyper had a particular group in mind that were Revolutionaries, but a group prior to the rioters. He mentions a group multiple times called “The Encyclopediests” in multiple works, that I apparently just kept reading over. The leading figures behind the enterprise were Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert, and contributors included Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Voltaire, sometimes known collectively as the Encyclopedists. They worked on this project in France especially between 1751 to 1756. They sought to sever the ties between God and men, God's Word and men. They called for a new humanity to make a new world. Even in the 18th century that included hatred of the nuclear family, and it has metastasized to hatred of heterosexual marriage, the hatred of offspring (through abortion), and the hatred of gender. So an *antirevolutionary* stood against Enlightenment, rationalism, modernism, secularism, humanism. He stood against willy-nilly feelings and topsy-turvy riots. He stood against paganism, and anti-Christian worldviews. These necessarily have moral and political implications, again, as seen in the idea-makers/marketers that led to the Revolution. An antirevolutionary stood for submission to God, not independence from God (contra the cry of the French Revolution: “No God, No masters"). There is **no neutrality** (Kuyper called it "the fungus of _neutrality_" (310)). He saw the sacred in all of life and God as the *only absolute authority*, the one in whom total sovereignty resides. Then that personal faith and worship must be linked to broader work. So the positive name for his party is the "Christian-historical” party. > “If ‘Christian' therefore stands opposite ‘humanity,' the addition ‘historical' indicates that our situation cannot be created by us at will. It is the product of a past that, independent of our will and apart from our input, is fashioned by Him in whom we live and move and have our being." (278) > "We are therefore at heart a __militant__ party, unhappy with the status quo and ready to critique it, fight it, and change.” For what it's worth, Kuyper has entire sections on contagious diseases and epidemics (around page 246-247), opposed to mandatory vaccination, the "government should keep its hands off our bodies" and referred to it as a "form of tyranny hidden in these vaccination certificates.” > "And if we succeed sooner or later in having a free Christian university for gathering a circle of intelligent law students around professors in antirevolutionary statecraft, then perhaps, by God's grace, a future generation may be in a position to rely on a group of solid statesmen to inject the marrow of the antirevolutionary confession into the dry bones of our currently lifeless political institutions." (374) He was eventually elected to the position now called Prime Minister, an office he held for one term from 1901-1905. On his Wikipedia page I count 7 significant losses for political offices, not to mention his patience with how many times his policies were rejected. He had his problems. He and Jo had 8 kids, and I'm not convinced he did right by them. As the saying goes, he worked like an Arminian, and his three nervous breakdowns required significant time for recuperation. He did get distracted for a while by a kind of mystic pietism that taught the possibility of Christian perfection in this life, though he turned away from that after a while. # Marrow for Our Bewildered Bones But for his weaknesses, we could use more of his titanic immunity against the virus of man-centeredness. Consider the coronavirus and our culture. Listen to this description of the virus itself: > "corona connects to a specific receptor on its victim's membranes to inject its genetic material. The cell, __ignorant of what's happening__, executes the new instructions, which are pretty simple: Copy and Reassemble. It fills up with more and more copies of the original virus until it reaches a critical point and receives one final order: Self-destruct." Isn't this a perfect medical metaphor for our cultural destruction? Not just in lungs, but in legislators; ignorant self-destruction is happening. As Christians, we see the virus affecting lungs, we see it affecting our political leaders, but we must not let it infect our hope. A virus cannot survive without a host, and it prefers a *weak* one. A physical virus will die, but the cultural virus will eat the culture until there is no more. Changing analogies, the fire of envy will not die out, it must be opposed. It may not be enough to be *pro*-reformation. You must be that *and anti-Revolutionary*. ## If you would be an AntiRevolutionary: 1. Mediate on God's Word night and day. Psalm 1, *contra* the fools and scoffers and *for* the hard times . CHAZ are like chaff that the wind drives away. As a politician, Kuyper spoke regularly about “School with the Bible." You must know and submit to God's Word. 2. Make your calling and election sure. 2 Peter 1:10-11. Submit to the truth of God's sovereignty. 3. Be a man (“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” 1 Corinthians 16:13). Or be a woman (Proverbs 31). Be an image-bearer of God, male or female. Look, if you can't identify your gender, you aren't going to have much luck figuring out anything else. You must know how to submit to God's will. 4. Read history and literature. They will make you healthy in mind, immune to the rot. You need to have more history in your head than as far back as you can scroll in Instagram. “Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set. (Proverbs 22:28, see also Proverbs 23:10) Know where you're at. You must know God to learn from God's providence. (By the way, *biography* is good *twice*, once for content of the example and again in the practice of seeing historical examples.) 5. *Rejoice* when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12). Don't be surprised when others mock you for not joining them in their sin (1 Peter 4:3-4). Be prepared even for them to *claim* that you are the revolutionaries, turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6). 6. Let thanksgiving fill the place. Gratitude is the antithesis to immorality and impurity and lawlessness and covetousness. (Ephesians 5:3-5). Thanksgiving is the ultimate anti-Marxist, anti-envy activity. We are awake, but anti-woke. We are ready to submit to lawful authority, and not easy to command. We are against State monopoly on information, ideas, education, and media. We oppose media pressure and refuse to swallow dis-iniformation. We know that The Ministry of Truth is a lie, and we will not serve them. We will be preppers, not mostly hoarding gallons of water and toilet paper, but of books and even more, if they burn our books, in our *memories*. We will not forget our identity, as image-bearers, as Christians, as Protestants, as Americans. Jesus is Lord. Jesus and Him crucified is our world-and-life-memory. > "A nation, too, must __struggle__ for its existence. Its independence does not come free but has to be conquered or defended, and reconquered after losing it." (254) Kuyper died in 1920 (two years after World War I), 101 years ago. The outcome of his way of life is worth considering, and *imitating* as we remember his teaching from the word of God that Jesus is Lord.

On this episode of The A-List (the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business) Tom talks to Mischief USA ECD Kevin Mulroy. Mischief is an offshoot of Canadian Agency No Fixed Address, the fast-growing disruptor agency that scooped up Greg Hahn after he was fired by BBDO this summer. Kevin describes Mischief USA as “a small band of experienced, accountable creatives moving fast and caring about what they make.” Kevin tells us about being a bad student in high school (except for creative writing), hating and losing his first job in advertising as a media planner, and a conversation with comedy writer and actor Brian Stack that made him realize he needed to go back to ad school at 25. Follow Kevin on twitter at @sethmoe. -- There are still spots available in every class at Adhouse Advertising School. The fall application is live right now at Adhousenyc.com. Learn from industry pros George Tannenbaum, Mike Rovner and Soren Youngren, Matt Low and Mani Schlisser, Paul Fix or Tom Christmann. You get ten weeks of classes for just six hundred bucks. Go to adhousenyc.com and apply right now. ---------- You can connect with Tom at tomchristmann.net. Our music was composed by Ross Hopman at Duotone Audio Group. This episode was edited by Tom "All Thumbs" Christmann. Thanks for listening. Please subscribe to The A-List Podcast on Soundcloud or wherever you listen to pods. And share us with a friend. See you next time.

sent $$$ this week to NorCal Resist’s bail fund and their emergency aid for asylum seeking and undocumented families.norcalresist.org/“NorCal Resist’s bail fund helps community members facing protest and ICE-related charges make bail, so they can fight their charges at home with their loved ones instead of from a jail cell.Our bail program is funded by donations from the community. Unlike predatory bail bondsman services, which pocket a percentage of the bond money for a profit, our bail fund is a community resource that provides bonds for free, to those who need them most.”and,“As workplaces shut down, asylum seeking and undocumented families are left without income as they are unable to access unemployment or disability insurance systems. NorCal Resist is currently providing necessities, such as rent assistance, groceries, diapers, school supplies, medical bill assistance, and legal support, to hundreds of families living in Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Nevada, Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, Butte, Shasta, and Sacramento counties.”DOWNLOAD RECORDINGsubscribe to the podcast here: http://feeds.feedburner.com/5432fun(intro by omar)Monomyth “Falling in Love” Happy Pop FamilyKaren Meat & The Vahnevants “All Thumbs” Karen Meats the VahnevantsFruit & Flowers “Out of Touch” Drug TaxAlgebra II “601” Milkshake SummerBoyracer “In Love” To Get A Better Hold You’ve Got To Loosen Yr GripViolet Mice “Blue Balloons” Pig Myths: The Hits (So Far)K^ren “Flowers” CilnatroDame “Glitch” Dame S/T EPPledge Drive “Weekend Warrior” GenuinityJulius Smack “Real Belief” Buried TechnologyThe Sky Mata “Lizzy” Hatton BusPluperfect “internet quiz” Huli kaSweetie Darling “Snake Charmer” Snake CharmerSimulcast “Terminus” Love Songs for the End of the WorldMiscegenation, and More “Valladolid” Anchor Baby DEMOTAWINGS “Dad Cry” Listerine / Dad CryPlunk 67 “Circle” Plunk 67SHINY TIMES “Lose My Mind” Secret MemosBobby’s Oar “In The Woods” The Weeds In Your GardenJulie Fader “Eavesdropping” Outside In

This week's episode is dedicated to the memory of Brett Butler (The Flight Risks, Fire Marshal Bill, All Thumbs and Two Left Feet). He was a hell of a drummer and a hell of a guy, and he'll be missed for sure. We also go all over the map and play bands from Charlotte, Greensboro, Durham, Carboro, Wilmington, Columbia, and Charleston.http://www.gabbagabbahuh.com/http://www.facebook.com/gabbagabbahuh/http://www.patreon.com/gabbagabbahuh/Song list for GGHR ep 9:Fire Marshal Bill - Jambalaya (Dropkick)The Flight Risks - Desperation EscalationHotel Motel - Shark AttackPhester - Diamond RingCruise Control Pills - A Broken SkierThe Spinns - Wild Ravin'Boo Hag - Pop the ClutchBlack Skies - Aqua DogsISS - I Wanna Be DatedHale Bopp Astronauts - Big BucksAll Thumbs and Two Left Feet - Fit to SaySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/gabbagabbahuh)

All sermons and communion meditations

MQTA S3 E38… What happens when your eggplant breaks in two places and looks like a saxophone? What happens when you are ALL Thumbs and people can’t see right??.... What happens when you aren’t quite in the Christmas Spirit? Just get a pair of wreaths with Jingle Bells on them?.... A woman is going to get reconstructive surgery for her bits as her boyfriend gave her a gift that was TOO Big!!

Hosted by Raymond McCullough, in Belfast, Northern Ireland:   with music from: 5 Second Rule, (Texas, USA) -  'Fraher's/Humours of Ballyloughlin/Christmas Eve', (Buttered Side Down)  Prattle on, rick, (Tennessee, USA) -  'My Holiday', (Communion Bread)   Michael Tanenbaum, (Hawaii, USA) - 'Upcountry Boogie', (All Thumbs)    Kyle Carey, (Rhode Island, USA) -  'Gaol ise Gaol i', (Monongah)    Sarana VerLin, (Michigan, USA) -  'Kyrie', (Bats & Butterflies)    Lucky Mud, (Florida, USA) -  'Smell the Blood', (Underneath the Florida Moon)    Moonrakers, (England, UK) -  'Both Sides the Tweed', (Both Sides)   Produced by Precious Oil Productions Ltd for Celtic Roots Radio