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Welcome New CJA Network Members!

Composer/Arranger Ralph Carmichael is a pioneer for Christian Jazz Music! He is a legendary arranger, composer, and Big Band leader!  He has written or arranged tunes for Ella Fitzgerald , Bing Crosby, Sue Raney, Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como, Jack Jones, Debbie Reynolds, Peggy Lee and worked with Stan Kenton. He was also very instrumental in helping to usher in the careers of Andrae Crouch, the Winans, Walter and Tramaine Hawkins, Bryan Duncan and others though his Christian Record label Light Records!

In recent years Carmichael returned to the big band format and recorded a number of CDs containing jazz arrangements of popular gospel tunes with, "The Ralph Carmichael Big Band" on the Brentwood label. He won a Dove Award for “Instrumental Album of the Year” for his 1994 release, "Strike Up the Band". In recent recordings he has returned to the music of the jazz swing era with several recording projects including 1999's The Big Band Gospel Classics and Big Band Christmas.

Currently Ralph continues to create music: "I don't know how many notes I've got left in my pencil, but I know I want them used to glorify God and present His message to the world." Ralph is keeping his pencil extremely busy working on four new Hymn recordings for the London Symphony Orchestra! He is still arranging Big Band charts as well as a limited amount of appearances with his own Big Band (a select group of players from Southern California.) For more information visit here!

Jazz Vocalist Dave Boyer continues to touch the hearts and lives of many with his swingin' Big Band Jazz Gospel concerts! Dave's style of singing is very similar to the style of   Sinatra but Dave's voice and heart are focused on a life-changing encounter with Christ. Dave continues to celebrate his musical gifts and uplift people in churches and concerts everywhere using Big Band Christian Jazz to do so!

Dave has teamed up with Ralph Carmichaeal on several excellent recordings, including the Swing Sessions. He recently sang on a "live" recording with the Riverbend Church Big band on Randy Phillips's Cable TV Program, "The Awakening". For more information on Dave visit here!

Saxophonist/composer Justo Almario  Latin Beat Magazine lists Justo Almario as “one of the top 10 Latin jazz saxophonists of our time.”  As a musician, composer and arranger, Justo has combined elements of his native South American rhythms with American Jazz to create an artistry distinctively his own. Justo draws upon the same love of music and spiritual values that have always filled his playing and composing.

After graduating from Berklee School of Music Justo joined Mongo Santamaria's group touring the entire globe with the legendary leader. Justo also work with Charles Mingus and was a part of the legendary Christian Jazz group, "Koinonia"! ( Abe Labrioel and Alex Acuna were also members of this group!)

He has also worked with Freddie Hubbard, Chaka Khan, Linda Rondstadt, Roy Ayers, George Duke, Dave Grusin, Tito Puente, Machito, Master P, Queen Latifah, and Bebe Winans. He continues to work closely with Abe Labrioel ( Abe has a new solo project and continues to collaborate with Alex Acuna in the Latin Jazz group Tolu. Justo has an excellent new solo recording and you can hear audio samples and find out more about Justo here!

Pianist Adlan Cruz  began playing the piano at the age of three by ear.  His technique was cultivated by two of the most prominent concert pianists in the western hemisphere, Rosita Casanova and Violeta de la Mata. His openness to folkloric music prompted him to identify with his roots, hence incorporating vigorous Puerto Rican, Flamenco, AfroCuban and South American rhythms to his piano technique and compositions. 

He played on Ron Kenloy's Latin Worship CD, "Solo Para Ti" displaying his talents for applying authentic montunos and Latin jazz piano styles to contemporary worship songs.  Ron Kenoly proclaims that, "Adlan is one of the brightest and most talented musicians of our time. I have worked with many of the best artists and concert performers on today's Christian Music Scene. Adlan is not overshadowed by any of them and is without question the most gifted pianist that I have worked with."

Adlan's latest release, "The Pianoforte Collection" contains 2 CD's encompassing the many styles and musical flavors that Adlan can write and play. For more information visit here!

Trumpeter/vocalist Rod McGaha is a gifted Jazz trumpeter as well as composer, vocalist, lyricist, and producer. Rod was born and raised in Chicago, where his Jazz-loving father would play Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong records
constantly, perking Rod's interest in music.

McGaha caught a break when fellow trumpeter Clark Terry (DukeEllington/Count Basie) caught a performance by Rod and took him under his wing. McGaha went on to land numerous gigs and toured the world as a sideman for Kenny Rodgers, BeBe and CeCe Winans, The O’Jays, Take 6, Lou Rawls, and the legendary Max Roach who called Rod “an important new and original voice”.

Rod has two solo CD's and is currently on tour with Kirk Whalum's band. More info on Rod can be found here!

Saxophonist Quamon Fowler started his musical journey on the tenor saxophone at the age of twelve and has been composing music since he was fifteen.  He earned first chair for tenor saxophone in the Texas All-State Jazz Ensemble in 1998. After graduating from High School, Quamon attended Weatherford College where he was under the direction of jazz guitarist Tom Burchill.

A year later, Quamon felt he needed to deepen his music studies. He decided to attend Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Here, he studied with world-renowned clarinetist Alvin Batiste.  As he continued to study his sax technique and writing continued to develop.  Quamon's compositions have won numerous awards.

Quamon describes his music as, "liberating instrumental music with a Christian focus. The stylistic approach consists of a mixture of straight-ahead, fusion, and bebop jazz combined with gospel, groove, and Texas Soul". Quamon has a new CD and you can hear audio samples and find out more about Quamon here!

Jazz Pianist Arlington Jones is a very gifted pianist and composer. Arlington began studying and playing the piano nearly twenty years ago. 

 In 1995, Arlington received a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition from Texas Tech University in Lubbock.  In 1997, he completed a Master of Music in Music Performance at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos.  He trained under the direction of Dr. James Polk, former musical director for the legendary Ray Charles.  In 1998, he studied with Bernard Wright, acclaimed composer and keyboardist for various artists in the music industry including Roberta Flack.

          Arlington started playing professionally during his early years at Texas Tech.   Some of his mentors include Oscar Peterson, Errol Garner, Joe Sample, and Duke Ellington.  Over the years, he has been granted the privilege to play with Kirk Whalum, DeDe Warwick, Clark Terry, Roy Hargrove, David "Fathead" Newman, Frank Foster, and more.

 Arlington has composed and arranged well over 200 songs to date. With all the great challenges facing musicians today, one of Arlington's goals is to help other musicians and people everywhere understand that music is intended to be life-changing, uplifting, and comforting to the soul.  Arlington has two new CD's out and you can preview them here!

The Jazz Group Giocoso, (GEE-OH-COE-SO) means jokingly or humorously, and is an Italian musical term denoting the emotion with which a piece is to be played (like: andante, allegro, etc.). That is the name of this Christian Jazz group! It is Giocos's conviction that it's all right to smile, have fun, and really enjoy playing music! Along with enjoying their music is the underlying conviction that we should try to find joy in each day and all the blessings that it contains!

Dave Gruber is the keyboardist/composer for the group. He is a grad of the Dick Grove School of Music in Studio City, Ca. Each member of the group has had a life changing encounter with Jesus Christ, and believes that He is the giver of all that is good including music. Keyboardist Dave Gruber shares, "Through our music, we seek to express the life and joy that God has given us...the music may be joyous, funky, pensive, relaxing, or intense but our desire is to express a diversity of emotions through our music." For more info visit here!

The Riverbend Church Big Band directed by Carlton Dillard are an excellent sounding big band out of Austin, Texas! They recently recorded a Big Band CD on a "live" television special You can still catch the group in action on the "Awakening" program with Randy Phillips and guest vocalist Dave Boyer! Look for another great Big Band recording from them soon! For more information 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!!

 "Jazz In Church" Page

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

 

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

 

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

 

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