A e-newsletter designed to keep you encouraged, informed, and aware of all the helpful resources that are available to you as a Christian jazz musician, or just a jazz lover!

 

New Christian Jazz Music Email Discussion Group!

 

We have started an e-mail discussion group about jazz, spirituality, jazz in the sanctuary, and other related topics. This discussion group is open to anyone interested. Whether your a fan, jazz artist, jazz educator, or jazz lover this discussion group wants to hear your thoughts, opinions, and ideas!

 To subscribe to this group visit: 

christianjazzgroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 

 

New "Jazz In Church" Page

We have a new page with links to relevant articles about Jazz in Church located here!

                                                                                       Here is a directory that lists contact info on Artists, Composers, Producers, Studios, Instrumentalists, ect. This is a convenient way for you to be contacted by potential clients who are interested in your services, as well as encourage connecting and even collaborating with other Christian Musicians. If you want to be included in this list or want to check it out visit here!

 

New Weekly Christian Jazz FM Radio Program

Smooth Jazz Radio WGRZ in Melbourne, FL  are interested in having a weekly show featuring Christian Jazz music.
They are in need of CD's and are now accepting CD submissions from Christian Jazz Artists. Contact:
Randy Bennett
325 Valencia Road
Melbourne, FL 32904
(321) 951-9310 station
SupportJazzMusic@aol.com

 

Wanted: Christian Jazz Artists!

 

Bud Fox has a Christian coffeehouse in Bowling Green, KY called The ConneXion. He has some local jazz connections and would like to do a jazz coffeehouse sometime soon. For more info contact Bud Fox at:
The ConneXion Coffeehouse
 (270) 782-2889 or (270) 393-8817.

 

 

Smooth Pizzazz Radio had its best month ever in March! Over 2,600 hours of listening time was recorded!!! People tuning in to listen all over the world! Keep spreading the word about the station!

Christian Jazz Artists Compilation CD!

 

  CJA Network compilation CD featuring members playing Jazz arrangements of Hymns! 16 great renditions of Hymns served up in a wide variety of flavors!  To hear audio excerpts or to purchase this CD visit here! 

 

 

Welcome New CJA Network Members!

Saxophonist/Vocalist Lance Bryant  

Saxophonist, vocalist, composer and arranger, Lance Bryant hails from Markham, Illinois. He received his formal music education at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. During his tenure at Berklee, Lance fostered musical relationships with fellow classmates, saxophonists Branford Marsalis and Greg Osby, drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith, trumpeter Wallace Roney, pianist Cyrus Chestnut and other renowned musicians.

After moving to New York continued to study saxophone and arranging privately with Frank Foster, the former director of the Count Basie Orchestra. As a freelance artist in the late 1980s, Lance performed, toured and recorded with Steve Coleman, Monte Croft, Graham Haynes, and Lonnie Plaxico.

Lance has rounded out his professional experience by teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation at New York City's famed JazzMobile and began his decade-long relationship with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. In 1993, Lance became the Orchestra's Musical Director and Principal Arranger – a role in which he served for seven years. Lance also made his film debut in Spike Lee's Malcolm X and traveled extensively with Phyllis Hyman, Jon Hendricks, Pete "LaRocca" Sims, Wallace Roney, Abdulah Ibrahim, Bootsy Collins and others.

Recognizing the role that his spirituality plays in the creation and expression of his work, Lance currently serves as Director of Instrumental Music at Fountain Baptist Church in Summit, NJ, where he and his family are members and where is he committed to devoting his talent to the church.  For more information on Lance visit here!

Saxophonist  Bob Michalski

Bob Michalski is a very gifted woodwind player and Christian recording artist. Bob's focus and desire is to share his passion for jazz with an unmistakable spiritual dimension. So Bob started ReedMan music ministry. Bob shares that the essence of Reedman music can be summed up in the following statement, "The music is jazz...the message is hope! "I feel closest to God while listening to jazz music" says Michalski. "There's just something special about the unusual chords, rhythm and melodies in jazz."

ReedMan Music originally started out as a radio program in South Carolina called "JC Jazz" Bob shares that, "it's no surprise that jazz is the medium used to entertain as well as bring listeners into an atmosphere of praise and worship. Throughout the Bible music is used to encourage God's people and provide a means and avenue for celebration. More importantly music (both instruments and voices) is used to praise and worship God." ReedMan Music seeks to continue these traditions ... utilizing today's musical styles and instrumentation to entertain, encourage and open people's hearts to the love and presence of God.

ReedMan Music is proud to offer Bob Michalski's debut CD "Transparence". It's a collection of songs that range from jazz to worship. This is a fresh project that has fused gospel with jazz and is sure to be a treat for the listener. For more information on Bob visit here!

Pianist Alton Merrell

Alton Merrell, a native of Warren, Ohio, is a worshiper, gospel and jazz pianist, educator, music producer, songwriter and composer.

Alton holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Jazz and Classical Piano Performance from Youngstown State University graduating Cum Laude. He also holds a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Youngstown State University. He is presently pursuing a Master of Theology from International Seminary and will soon begin doctoral studies to obtain a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Composition and Performance.

Mr. Merrell has ministered with gospel artists Martha Munizzi, Donnie McClurkin, Dorothy Norwood, LaShunn Pace-Rhodes, Rev. Timothy Wright, and Parkes Stewart. He has also been seen several times on the nationally televised Bobby Jones Gospel Show. Mr. Merrell has also performed with jazz artists: Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, James Moody, Phil Woods, Marvin Stamm, Maria Schneider, Kenny Burrell, Billy Pierrce, Conrad Herwig, Leslie Lewis, Frank Foster, Roger Humphries, and Jim Rupp. He has also been a member and soloist with, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Cleveland State Jazz Heritage Orchestra, Pittsburgh Concert Chorale, YSU All-Star Alumni Jazz Ensemble, Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, and the OMEA Intercollegiate All-Star Jazz Ensemble.

Alton presently serves as the director of Covenant Church at Pittsburgh's Fine Arts Academy, a Christian arts school that offers training in music, dance, and drama to students of all ages. He is also a pianist and choir director at Covenant Church of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where Bishop Joseph Garlington is the pastor. Alton and his wife Kimberly reside in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  For more information about Alton visit here!

Saxophonist Angelo Luster

A rose sprung from a rock" are the words critics use to describe Oakland, California native Angelo Luster, a saxophonist whose music invites the listener to embark upon a unique spiritual journey. You will without a doubt be enraptured by the emotion conveyed through his rich soulful sound, birthed from the union of contemporary gospel and the west coast jazz movements.

At age twelve, he was accepted on scholarship to the Young Musicians Program at the University of California, Berkeley, where he trained for six years in jazz and classical music. This led Luster to realize his purpose in life was to, "inspire others through my music." Luster was taught by Bill Bell and Jim Moran who previously trained Dave Ellis, Tony, Toni, Tone guitarist, John Smith, Rodney Franklin, and Benny Green.

Luster received a scholarship to Grambling State University where he achieved the position of featured saxophone soloist. He also earned the honor of being spotlighted with such artists as Boyz II Men. Luster has spent may of his summers playing in big bands behind such greats as, Rosemary Clooney, Mercer Ellington, Maynard Ferguson, Diane Schurr, Della Reese, Billy Taylor, Joe Williams, and other seasoned performers. After obtaining his Bachelor of Music degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1996, Luster returned home and began to perform internationally with St. Gabriel's Celestial Brass Band.

Angelo celebrates the release of his first solo album entitled, "Face 2 Face". The album is an intimate reflection of his spirituality and desire to lead listeners into the presence of God. In addition to the album, Luster performs in a host of venues with his quartet which exemplifies the diverse sounds of his upbringing, the UC Berkeley's Young Inspirational Gospel Choir and conducts instrumental music workshops nationwide. For more information on Angelo Luster visit here!

Make sure that you visit the CJA Network page and listen to the great music from these new members!  We now have 60 Christian Jazz artists network members!!

As you can see Christian Jazz Artists are very busy celebrating their gifts!

 

We are jazzed about life...

 

We are jazzed about God!

 

Celebrate today and savor the music!

 

 

 

We have all the great articles and  interviews from past newsletters for you to read!

 

Check it all out here!

 

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