~ This Issue  ~ 

Featured Interview: Jazz guitarist Randy Bernsen shares thoughts about playing with Jazz legends Jaco Pastorius, Joe Zawinul, as well as being a Christian Jazz Artist  Read Interview here!

Featured Devotional: "What If He Hadn't Come To Earth?".  .... Martin Luther wrote these words long ago but they are still very relevant. He said, "We must listen not just to history, but to a gift "! Most of us will hear the Christmas story several times over the next month. We will look back into history to recall what happened that glorious night long ago. But as we look back let us not forget the wondrous gift that came bundled up, wrapped in love, and sent from heaven to bless all mankind!  Read more here!

 Jazz Ed! Fresh ideas on Jazz, Music Theory, and Improvisation! This month David Arivett offers two Jazz Christmas songs  from his, "Jazz Yer Blues" lesson series! Two very interesting arrangements of, "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and "Greensleeves". These free lessons are for helping you integrate more jazzy voicings and changes into your blues playing!    Visit here

  Chuck Marohnic has some excellent Christmas arrangements for piano and brass quintet located here!

Christian Jazz Artists Compilation CD!

Great new hot jazz arrangements of Hymns!    (Includes two Christmas tunes!)

Great as a Christmas gift!

  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! 

New Christian Musicians Directory

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Welcome New CJA Network Members!

Saxophonist Grady Nichols truly personifies today's hip Smooth Jazz / Instrumental Pop scene. Grady has been described as, “the awesome new sax player for the millennium” by legendary fusion jazz great Jeff Lorber. Renowned for his signature interpretation of "Amazing Grace", Grady had the humble honor of performing on the "Hour of Power" at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California in September 2001 following the devastating terrorist attacks. 

In his new CD release, “Sophistication”, Grady has taken his musical appeal to a new level by enlisting the talents of not only Jeff Lorber, who produced and co-wrote the CD, but also Chris Botti (trumpet), Ray Fuller (guitar) and Paul Pesco (rhythm guitar). Grammy Award winner Paul Brown mixed the CD. Grady's 2001 release, "In the Fullness of Time", is a spiritual CD featuring Bill Champlin, keyboardist / vocalist of the group Chicago, alongside a 50 voice choir.  It shows the diversity of Grady's sound and stage presentation using elements of jazz, reggae, Latin, blues and gospel. 

Pianist Phillip DeGreg 

Phil began playing the piano as a child and now performs internationally. In 1995 Phil  was named one of the 10 finalists in Jazziz Magazine's "Keyboardists on Fire" competition. For the last 12 years, DeGreg has been the house pianist at Cincinnati's famous Blue Wisp Jazz Club, performing with many notable jazz artists, including Slide Hampton, J.J. Johnson, Zoot Simms, Junior Cook, Bobby Watson, Mark Murphy and Stanley Turrentine. DeGreg is dedicated to sharing his love of jazz through teaching.  He also plays piano on Sundays at his church.

Phil is currently Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, teaching jazz theory, arranging, piano, and ensembles. He has taught for the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops since 1982. 1995 DeGreg published "Jazz Keyboard Harmony," a chord voicing method written for non-pianists and beginning jazz pianists, which is now used at universities in the U.S. and Europe. 

Guitarist Joel Del Rosario  

Producer/Guitarist Joel Del Rosario is young and very talented guitarist. Heavily influenced by the sounds of jazz guitar greats like George Benson, Joe Pass, and Stanley Jordan, Joel adds his own unique blend of Smooth Jazz!  Through recordings and concerts his musical talents and gifts (coupled together with his strong spiritual ties), has led him to fuse faith and smooth jazz together, creating music uplifting and relaxing to the soul. Joel's music style runs through the gamut of R&B, Funk, Soul, Smooth Jazz, to spiritually uplifting instrumentals. Joel also plays guitar at his church and loves to express his faith for God by playing music that grooves for the Lord

Visit the CJA Network page here!

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 New & Notable!

 Saxophonist Grady Nichols has a new CD release, "Sophistication".  Legendary Keyboardist/Producer Jeff Lorber produced, played, and co-wrote the tunes. Make sure and listen to the featured song, "Behind The Scenes"!

Keyboardist/arranger Tom Brooks has been very busy recording a new CD project with the Worship Alliance SuperBand! Members include Abraham Labrioel, Paul Jackson, Sheila E., Vinnie Colauita, and Tom Brooks on keys! Look for the new recording soon! Worship Alliance also has the new CD, "Abe Labrioel and Friends". All this and more can be found at: www.worshipalliance.com

Producer/Keyboardist David Diggs Is participating in a great FREE compilation CD called ³THE GREATEST MUSIC YOU¹VE NEVER HEARD, VOL.1²  The CD has 16 tracks from various independent jazz artists from around the world!  Just purchase one of David's CDs from CDBABY, and as a free gift, they will send you a copy of ³THE GREATEST MUSIC YOU¹VE NEVER HEARD, VOL.1² with your order. For more info on ³THE GREATEST MUSIC YOU¹VE NEVER
HEARD, VOL.1² just go to:
cdbaby.com/group/thegreatestmusic

To purchase David Digg's CD: http://cdbaby.com/cd/diggs

 Kim Jordan will be appearing live Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 6:00PM - 7:00PM  at the Millennium Stage, The Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Cost/Info:  Admission is FREE! Also Kim will be perfroming Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 8:00PM & 10:00PM
Blues Alley
1073 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
Cost/Info:  Call (202) 337-4141

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"Just imagine: a joyful Jesus! Haven't we had enough of grim religion?"

 

Swing a New Song to the Lord!

THE JAZZ HYMNAL BY CHUCK MAROHNIC

Thought provoking, yet highly singable jazz material for use in the Sanctuary!

Preview them here

Songs Of  David Jazz Worship Songs & Charts

Preview them here

New Resources for Jazz Worship!

Our Jazz Worship Page is the place to get the very best charts for your church band or Orchestra anywhere on the Internet! Fresh new material to preview as well as "jazzed up" Hymn arrangements are available!

Big Band ~ Ensembles ~ Praise Band

Interested in learning more about Jazz theory, technique, or improvisation? Want to learn how to develop your ear and transcribe music? Visit the Jazz Ed page for a one stop collection including material from some of the top musicians in Jazz!  Books, Charts, CD's, DVD's, Videos, Midi files and more  here!

Free CJA Downloads!

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Devotional Article

What If He Hadn’t Come To Earth?

(For an acrobat pdf file of this article to download and print out visit here! )

I would like for you to consider the following scenario…what if Jesus hadn’t come to earth, there was no Christ child, no incarnation, and no Christmas? Try to imagine what History would look like for the last 2000 years without Christ, without His words, and without the New Testament! I believe that total chaos would have ruled the last 2000 years! Without the influence of Christ and Christianity on History evil would have scored a total victory. Think of all the humanitarian efforts, the building of hospitals, the healing and feeding of countless millions. Multitudes of people’s lives that wouldn’t have been changed by the message and power of Christ! Without the message of the birth, life, and death of Christ and His influence on the world, the possibility exists that none of us would be here today because of a nuclear catastrophe! But if mankind had somehow survived total annihilation what kind of society would there be without the influence of Christ on our world?

Then imagine further with me that Christmas never was and never to be! No giving of gifts, no cheerful acts of kindness, Christmas carols or Christmas trees! No Churches, no Christmas music, and no Holiday cheer. No stories of the wonderful birth of the baby Jesus. No message of hope, joy, or peace on earth, good will to men? No message of loving one another. Worst of all, NO CHRIST!

More importantly, what difference would it have made in your life if Christ had never existed or been born in your live? Yes, that is the question that really can make you think! What difference has Christ made in your live? Where would you and I be without having ever heard the story about how God decided to become one of us and, "pitch His tent " with us to dwell in human flesh? 

The Apostle Paul writes in chapter two of the book of Ephesians that we should remember what we once were without Christ! Paul says that we were without hope!! And that really does sum up what it would mean for the whole world but especially for those of us who have received Him in a personal and intimate way.

It is so easy to get caught up with all the shopping, ceremonies, music, and celebrations to take for granted the glorious Incarnation and miraculous wonder of the Christ Child. Maybe it’s time to pause for a moment right now for us to lift our thanks and gratitude to God for coming to earth and for the incredible difference Christ has made in our lives. To be grateful for the gifts of hope, joy, peace, and love. Think of all the evil things He has delivered you from and praise Him for it!! Taste of the joy and peace that only Christ can give right now!

Martin Luther wrote these words long ago but they are still very relevant. He said, "We must listen not just to history, but to a gift "! Most of us will hear the Christmas story several times over the next month. We will look back into history to recall what happened that glorious night long ago. But as we look back let us not forget the wondrous gift that came bundled up, wrapped in love, and sent from heaven to bless all mankind! 

Furthermore let us look to the present and may our prayer be that the Spirit of Christ "be born in us" today, fresh and new. May we honor and serve Him by following His message and doing what He said for us to do. Share His message of love, hope, joy, and peace to others not only at Christmas but moment by moment throughout our lives. May we never take for granted the wonder of the Incarnation. But also remember that the miracle of His birth is re-created over and over again in the lives of all who will receive Him andet His Spirit be born and grow in their lives!