I had a blast at the Instrumental Encore this past weekend at Tri-City Baptist Church, in Conover, NC. There were over 130 instrumentalists on stage playing and it was a truly powerful and encouraging time.

We had the opportunity to premier the Horns & Rhythm-Retro Hymns project during the big band reading session. Let me just say I was overwhelmed. The players did a really great job sight reading a project which is meant to take 4-6 rehearsals to get them ready.

I LOVE this!

This is so much fun!

Wow!

Thank you!

This is fresh!

Those were just some of the comments from the players and worship pastors that were in attendance.

The best part was the look on their faces. As many churches move toward a contemporary, rhythm driven worship style, many instrumental groups are being phased out because they just don’t have a place. The TRUTH is that it’s not that they don’t have a place, it’s that no one has created music that truly utilizes their gifts in a relevant way. THAT’S what Horns & Rhythm-Retro Hymns is all about. This project is truly unlike any other instrumental project out there.

It was such a fun weekend!

One of my personal highlights was seeing my old friend, Lanny Cox. Lanny and I were in TRUTH together back in 1992.

 

Special thanks to:

Kathy Matheson for creating another TOP NOTCH conference!

North Carolina and South Carolina music departments that are so amazingly supportive and a Godly group of folks

Tri-City Baptist Church and Rhea Pettis for hosting (Thanks for the green table Rhea. You rock!)

Camp Kirkland for MC’ing, encouraging the players and for throwing my name in the hat

Richie Kingsmore for running the big band reading session and for all the kind words about our project

Jeff Cranfill for your always encouraging spirit and your GREAT Church Orchestra arrangements! (CHECK HIM OUT!)