I’m working on a series of video promos for each of the song titles in the Horns & Rhythm-Worship Volume 1 series right now. As an introduction to the series, I created this video that briefly overviews the series. For all you visual people (like me), maybe this is an easier way to explain the series.

As a side note, I let my wife Dana see this first video promo and she says, “Why did you use that voice?”

“Because it’s cool.”

Chirp. Chirp. (crickets chirping)

“Don’t ever use it again.”

So…expect a different voice on future videos.

A perfect opportunity to talk about theCRICKETtoy®. Anytime there is an awkward pause in a conversation, push the button on theCRICKETtoy® and you will hear “Chirp. Chirp.” (crickets chirping). A fun little invention of mine. You’ll LOVE it in rehearsals!

I recently had the best cup of coffee in my life. Where was it? Was it the Kopi Luwak coffee?

It was at Burger King.

The week after Easter our family went down to Pensacola, FL (hometown) for Spring Break to stay with my folks and let them get their ‘grandkids fix.’ While we were there, Dad and I had opportunities to go out to breakfast a couple times. Dad, as he described, survived two of the widow makers. He’s had triple bypass surgery and colon cancer. He’s told me that God has made it clear that He has more planned for him, so Dad is just enjoying life to its fullest.

Near the end of the trip, we went to Burger King for breakfast. Both of us normally eat Cheerios or oatmeal and such, but while I’m down there, we usually go out for breakfast and eat what we normally wouldn’t eat. We sat and talked for about an hour and a half. Just hanging out. Laughing. Sharing stories. We talked some about him growing up on the farm in Minnesota. We talked about how he retired from US Customs and then worked for the Sheriff’s Department. He then retired from that. He’s now had 2 or 3 different job opportunities with one of them paying 1.5 times what he retired from US Customs making. It seems every time he tries to retire, he is offered another job(I am now going to try and retire and see if that works for me). BUT, I’ve realized a lot of that has to do with the kind of man he is. He is honorable. He is honest. His word is true. He does what he says he will do (and more). He is dependable. He is unbending. And you should see the way he plays with my kids. So much joy. So much fun. So much happiness. And plenty of goofiness too. That’s one of the strong traits I aquired from him and I am grateful for it.

I remember growing up and having those moments talking with Dad. I remember a couple of times coming into their bedroom late at night when I wasn’t sure what to do about something (usually a girl). I specifically remember a moment in college where I was working at a church and I was absolutely miserable there. It was really a horrible situation for me. Dad could tell in my voice that I was at that point. “We’re getting in the car. We’ll be there as soon as possible.” We still talk about that moment. It was a defining moment for me. With the wisdom of my folks, I resigned from the church and within a week I was hired by a bigger church to do the same thing (for better pay) and with an amazingly Godly staff that helped me develop as a man of God.

The cup of coffee at Burger King was another one of those moments. As I get older, I find myself enjoying those moments as often as possible. I know that many people are not blessed with two parents, still married to each other, and both amazing people. I get that. As to why God has blessed us so greatly, I do not know. But I am grateful.

There is no question that the man I am today has been greatly defined by my Father. It is evident in His life that our Heavenly Father lives through my Dad in a strong and mighty way. I say this once in awhile, but it is so true:If my son thinks of me the way I think of my father, I will have succeeded in a huge and mighty way.

Situations are all different. Maybe it’s your mother. Maybe it’s your father. Maybe it’s your wife/husband. Maybe it’s your children. Maybe it’s a dear friend.

So what about you? Have you had your ‘best cup of coffee’ this year? Go and look for it. You may find it at Burger King. Mine was amazing!

There are musical moments in your life you will never forget. You can’t put it into words, but life changed at that moment. I remember when I heard Steven Curtis Chapman’s “The Great Adventure” record for the first time. I hit play (probably on a cassette) and this “Prologue” music started. Without warning, this amazing film score type piece of music began that was huge and epic. I was so moved by that piece of music. No words, just a huge orchestra soaring. The great adventure. Perfect description. I tore open the packaging to read the credits to see who on earth did this. I knew a lot of the arrangers by name in Nashville and this was on a different level than anything I had heard on ANY Christian project. I had to know who did this.

answer:JAC Redford

Fast forward a few years. I’m going to LA for a trip and a good friend of mine, Keith Getty (In Christ Alone, The Power of the Cross), talks about his friend JAC Redford. I send an email to JAC saying Keith Getty said I should talk with him (which Keith did), and JAC graciously obliges. We talk on the phone and he offers to have lunch while I am in LA. Let me say the lunch conversation in LA was ‘brilliant’ as Keith would say. Inspiring, challenging, motivating, humbling and a powerfully spiritually moving discussion transpired. We talked film scores, orchestrations, TV shows, living in LA, music publishing, business and family.

As our friendship grew and we discussed publishing and letting churches know about some of his music, JAC told me of an arrangement of It Is Well With My Soul he did for the Westminster Brass. If you want to sell it on your website, you can he said. I said “Yes!”. I was recording “A Season for Brass” the next month (our Christmas Brass Ensemble project) and we decided to make a recording of the arrangement so folks can hear it.

So I have an arrangement of It Is Well With My Soul for brass quintet by JAC Redford. It is powerful, it is strong and it’s NOT for 7th grade trumpeters. If you have a solid brass group and want to give them something to play to challenge them AND inspire them, this is the arrangement for you.

A quick sample bio of JAC Redford:

Avatar (YES, THAT AVATAR!)-orchestrator for James Horner
Revolution Road (Leo DiCaprio/Kate Winslet)-orchestrator for Thomas Newman
WALL-E-orchestrator along with Thomas Pasatieri (this score nominated for 2 Academy Awards)
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas-orchestrator for James Horner
The Perfect Storm-orchestrator for James Horner

Nightmare Before Christmas-Danny Elfman composer/conducted by JAC
The Little Mermaid-conducted by JAC

Composer for:
Newsies
Oliver & Company

D2:The Mighty Ducks
D3:The Mighty Ducks
The Trip to Bountiful
One Night with the King

Oh..and a ‘couple’ TV Shows:
nearly 500 episodes of TV (including Coach and St. Elsewhere)

arranged music for Joshua Bell’s Sony release “At Home With Friends”. These were duets of Joshua Bell with Sting, Carel Kraayenhof and Kristin Chenowith.

As a composer, his works have been performed by Cantus, The Debussy Trio, Los Angeles Chamber Singers, Los Angeles Master Chorale, St. Martin’s Chamber Choir, Utah Chamber Artists and Utah Symphony. He has been featured on programs at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., London’s Royal Albert Hall and St. Peter’s Basilica (YES THAT ONE!) in Rome.

JAC’s autobiography, Welcome All Wonders:A Composer’s Journey tells the moving story of his faith and music.

More importantly, JAC is a Godly man with great wisdom and encouragement. He is unintentionally challenging when you speak with him. You just can’t help but want to work more at your craft. He is an amazing musician and a dear friend. I hope you enjoy this arrangement of It Is Well With My Soul for brass quintet.

Click below to hear a recording of this arrangement:

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