I LOVE our director of music...

There is an old joke that seasoned pastors share in the privacy of their own homes or studies that goes:  Do you know the difference between a terrorist and a director of music in a church?  You can negotiate with a terrorist!
 
Now I have been blessed over the years to have worked with some truly exceptional musicians who have also been genuinely wonderful human beings.  Sadly, this is not always the case.  And when it comes down to choosing side between a long tenured musician and a newly arrived/ appointed clergy person, I can't tell you how many pastors have wound up on the losing side of things.  (To be fair, I am sure that there are just as many stories from the realm of music ministers that cut the other way, too. All too many clergy can become pompous and officious with their staff - especially when challenged.)

That said, I give thanks to God almost every day for the man I get to work with every week:  Carlton Maaia II.  Not only is he young, talented, creative and gifted in ways that blow my mind, he is a deeply compassionate person of faith with a razor sharp mind and a wicked sense of humor.  Every week we find new ways of collaborating and creating the wildest mix of music and liturgy I've ever encountered.  What's more, we're blessed to do all of this with total freedom in the company of a cadre of dedicated and talented volunteer singers and players who love to make music together.  My sister-in-law put it like this:  When we agreed to come and play at your church I thought, "well, ok, we'll tough this out and just eat the sloppy musicianship.  But I would PAY to see you guys play - you are at the top of your game - and real pros!"

Take last night's band practice for Between the Banks (our house band for church.)  For the next three week's we're doing a "spirituality of jazz" series and this Sunday's emphasis is syncopation - listening for what the offbeat can contribute to the whole mix - discovering what is just below the surface.  We've reworked Paul Simon's old tune, "Slip Slidin' Away" into a jazz-gospel groove both because it swings AND points to the gospel in Luke 12.  We wanted some other syncopated tunes for worship so that the congregation gets the feel of what it means to emphasize the offbeat.

So my man reworked a Kyrie from Ghana into an up-tempo jazz waltz - and in this form the tune is smokin'.  He also brought in an ancient chant - Ubi Caritas - in Em that gives each of the players a chance to explore the bluesy side of things while the singers play it straight.  And just for good measure, we'll close worship with Dave Brubeck's "Travellin' Blues" because it swings like nothing else.  Now, it helps that C is also the music coordinator for the Scarett-Bennett Center's "Vespers... and All that Jazz" program in Nashville. (check it out @ http://www.scarrittbennett.org/programs/ves.aspx).  What's more, he has been playing every week in church since his teens. (Check out his page @ http:// www.carltonmaaia.com/)  So, let's just say that that it is a joy every week to bring my old guy with an edge thing into the mix with his young man with a gift insights.

And thanks be to God the congregation gets it intuitively:  they LOVE the eclectic mix of sounds and styles that we come up with.  And that's a good thing because neither of us is interested in musical or any other type of segregation.  We are the WHOLE people of God:  young and old and in-between, classical junkies and rock and rollers who are fascinated and fed with jazz, hymns, chants and all the rest.  The brothers at Taize used to talk about their work as being a "parable of God's festival."  I feel the same way.

If you are around or in town this weekend, stop by for part one of "A Spirituality of Jazz:  Syncopation as a Spiritual Practice."  It will be a gas.  (I think I'm going to do a little celebrating ALL the great people I get to work with over the next few days because DAMN... they are REAL blessings in my life!)

credits:
+ http://www.123rf.com/photo_7483965_a-jazz-band.html