The Spirit of Jazz: Recent Episodes
Presbybop Music
Season Three concludes with a conversation with Michael Carbone, an extraordinary saxophonist and good friend. Mike discusses his growth as a musician, his versatile career, and his current pursuits. It is a great conversation and a worthy conclusion for this season.
Music includes Mike’s solos on “Angels We Have Heard on High” (Fragile Incarnation) and “Stand On Your Head” (Stand On Your Head). All music composed by Bill Carter © 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
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Jeff said, “Let’s talk about Jazz for the Earth.” That fabulous CD project is now ten years young, and must not be neglected. The centerpiece of the album is “Beyond Banff,” a multi-composition suite of Bill Carter’s compositions to focus on our relationship with the natural world. The album features saxophonist Dave Liebman as guest soloist. Liebman is a National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master. He was in good company.
All music from Jazz for the Earth, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Sextet.
Tunes include: “Peyto Lake,” “Awestruck,” “Up From Bow River,” “A View from the Summit,” “Elegy,” and “Dance 24.” All music composed by Bill Carter © 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
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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 theDeer 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 Music
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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
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Jeff Kellam and Bill Carter introduce the 12th recording of the Presbybop Quintet. It's called "Brand New Day." This collection of fresh jazz performances is guaranteed to improve the quality of your life!
To see the video that accompanies this podcast, click here.
To hear samples of the album or download it, click here.
All music from Brand New Day, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quintet
Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)
Announcer: Chris Norton
© Presbybop Music.
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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 Music
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 Quartet
Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)
Announcer: Chris Norton
(c) Presbybop Music
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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 Norton
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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=mZCWXXNYzgg
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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-riff
Music 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.
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As the year concludes, here is a bonus episode of new music. The Presbybop Quintet offers three fresh tunes from their International Tour of New England.
Music includes: "Finding Our Way Home," "I Wonder As I Wander," and "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentle Waltz Kings." All music arranged or composed by Bill Carter and (c) Presbybop Music (BMI).
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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, NH
- Wolfeboro Friends of Music, Wolfeboro, NH
- The First Baptist Church in America, Providence, RI
- Schorr Family Firehouse Stage, Johnson City, NY
All 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 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 Music
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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
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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 Quartet
Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)
Announcer: Chris Norton
(c) Presbybop Music
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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 Music
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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
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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
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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 Music
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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 Quartet
Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)
Announcer: Chris Norton
(c) Presbybop Music
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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-dvd
Music: "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 Quartet
Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)
Announcer: Chris Norton
(c) Presbybop Music
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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 Music
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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 practicioners 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 Window
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
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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 Music
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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 Music
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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 Window
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
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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
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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 Words
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
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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 Music
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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 Earth
- Bill Carter and the Presbybop Sextet
- David 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 Music
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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 Music
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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 Music
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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.html
Want 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.html
- http://impressionsofvince.blogspot.com/2015/08/mass-appeal-chapter-4.html
- http://impressionsofvince.blogspot.com/2015/08/an-afternoon-of-grace.html
- http://impressionsofvince.blogspot.com/2015/08/mass-appeal-chapter-5.html http://impressionsofvince.blogspot.com/2015/09/east-coast-grace.html
And we suggest subscribing to blog of All Things Guaraldi athttp://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 Music
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“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 Music
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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/xLqiV51k5t4
Featured music:
- Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming, from Jazz Noel, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Christmas Eve Band
- Angels We Have Heard on High, recorded live on Christmas Eve
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas, recorded live on Christmas Eve
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
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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 Word
takes flesh
it is a fragile
Incarnation.
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,
loving
risking all.
And joy finds us.
Featured music:
Away in a Manger, from Jazz Noel, Bill Carter and the Presbybop Christmas Eve Band
What 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 Music
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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 Music
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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 atwww.jamiehowison.ca
Featured music: “Elegy” from Jazz for the Earth
Bill Carter and the Presbybop Sextet
David Liebman, guest soloist.
Featured music: “Ice Cold” from Jazz for the Earth
Bill Carter and the Presbybop Sextet
David 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 Music
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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 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 Music
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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 Band
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
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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 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 Music
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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 Music
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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 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
(c) Presbybop Music
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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 Home
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
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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 Quartet
Music used by permission from Presbybop Music (BMI)
Announcer: Chris Norton
(c) Presbybop Music
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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 Quartet
Host: Chris Norton
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