I Love My Job

As a worship leader, I have had the privilege of leading people into the gospel story.  As a pastor, I have had the privilege of seeing people grow in that gospel.  As a musician I have had the privilege of seeing people grow into the gifts that God has created in them as they work the gospel out in their lives.  It's a dance...music, gospel, people...and I love watching it and taking part in it.

Tommy Leahy is a great example of a young man who has grown into the musical gifts God has given him all the while finding himself within the gospel story.  It's been a pleasure seeing a little kid pick up a guitar and then blink and see a young man leading us in worship.  It's one of the things that I absolutely love about my job.  This video is of Tommy and I leading worship at Philmont Christian Academy.  He can be my wing man any time.

Thoughts on Sojourn's "Come Ye Sinners"

 

I recently bought Sojourn's latest album, "Come Ye Sinners."  It's a live recording from their Good Friday service (more details here.) A lot has been said already regarding this album so I'll keep the praises short.  It's bold and creative, powerful and intimate...and it's loud.  You can't listen to this album without turning it up.

But the most remarkable thing for me--the thing that I want the musicians at my church to study--is the way the music was made and the album was mixed so that each instrument has its own place in the sonic "wall of sound."  So I'll enter into a little listening exercise...

You should listen to this album with big speakers turned way up but you should study this album with headphones on.  When you do, you'll hear the instruments laid out in a semi-circle (like a half-clock).  You'll hear one electric guitar at your 9 o'clock, the other at your 3 o'clock both doing a great job staying out of each other's way but complimenting one another really well.  It's a great lesson in the use of two electric guitars in church music.

Then you have the organ tucked in there around 10 o'clock, bass around 2 o'clock, acoustic guitar at 1 o'clock and vocals a little off center.  It seems--as I enter into this exercise--like this is the general layout in the mix.  Listen to it and see for yourself.  Buy the album and tell me what you think.

Thanks to Sojourn for another great album!

Grace and Peace...