Time to L.E.A.R.N.!

TODAY’S CLIP: In keeping with this weeks “three generations” theory, I wanted today’s musical post to encourage you to continue to work. The scripture in Philippians 4:13 says that you can do ALL things through Christ that strengthens you. Therein lies today’s song title, “I Can Do All Things Through Christ”. As far as I can tell, the original was done by Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. If someone out there in Blogland knows of an earlier version, let me know in the comments section. I love this video because it’s a big, old school choir led by Dr. Clark with “Twinkie” Clark on the organ… and then Bishop G.E. Patterson gets up at the end. What a combination. This version tickles my Baptist ear. Check it out and be encouraged… old school style!

BUT WAIT… THERE’S MORE…

I was originally introduced to this song through the remix by Earnest Pugh featuring Bishop Rance Allen. It’s lyrically the same repackaged in a neo-soul-ish music style. This version tickles my musical ear. Check it out and enjoy… new school style!

(Just so you know where I stand, I don’t agree with the “D’Angelo anointing” line in the beginning JUST because it stylistically follows a similar “D’Angelo” style. It’s God’s music and the message of the song is powerful enough. Does it really need a label beyond that??? I’m just sayin’. Anyway… enjoy…)

As a musician, 90% of what you do is listening. Music is too much of a universal language to get stuck on one dialect. Therefore, today’s blog is dedicated specifically for you to LISTEN (to the clip provided), EXPAND (your thinking on music in a way that you may not have considered before), AND ROCK NOW (with more musical knowledge added to your repertoire)!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to this song. The videos included in this blog are only intended to bring musical awareness to the reader.

Time to L.E.A.R.N.!

TODAY’S CLIP: I came across this song years ago, but when I heard it I was instantly in love with it. Moreso than that, the original version of this was nothing more than an interlude, so when the artist came back and extended it into a full fledged song, I was hashtag DONE! This is L. Spencer Smith and Testament ministering “Surgery”. This song for me satisfies three musical requirements for me when it comes to Gospel music I like (1) vocally appealing, (2) musically appealing, and most importantly (3) there’s a GOSPEL RELATED MESSAGE! Check it out for yourself and see what you think.

As a musician, 90% of what you do is listening. Music is too much of a universal language to get stuck on one dialect. Therefore, today’s blog is dedicated specifically for you to LISTEN (to the clip provided), EXPAND (your thinking on music in a way that you may not have considered before), AND ROCK NOW (with more musical knowledge added to your repertoire)!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to this song. The video included in this blog is only intended to bring musical awareness to the reader.

Time to L.E.A.R.N.!

TODAY’S CLIP: I am so thankful for my musician friends because they follow the old axiom of “Birds of a feather flock together.” In other words, they are on the same hunt for great music as I am. As a result, I was introduced to this group by a great trumpet friend of mine and I couldn’t be more hooked. This is a group titled Snarky Puppy performing “Lingus”.

Simply put… it’s awesome. Check it out.

As a musician, 90% of what you do is listening. Music is too much of a universal language to get stuck on one dialect. Therefore, today’s blog is dedicated specifically for you to LISTEN (to the clip provided), EXPAND (your thinking on music in a way that you may not have considered before), AND ROCK NOW (with more musical knowledge added to your repertoire)!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to this song. The video included in this blog is only intended to bring musical awareness to the reader.

Time to L.E.A.R.N.!

TODAY’S CLIP: In case you don’t know, I’m a fan of Star Trek. I don’t get into the semantics of “Trekkies” versus “Trekkers”, I just like the franchise. Of course, as a musician, I love the music too. Therefore, I’d like to present to you one of my favorite tension based musical passages in the Star Trek movie franchise (at least to me). This is “The Klingon Battle” written by Jerry Goldsmith from “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”.

On a personal note, I love soundtracks from movies (and TV shows) back in the day like this because the music lets you know who is the good guy, who is the bad guy, and when they are at odds with each other. The music follows the ebb and flow of the storyline and so much of that idea has been lost in our modern day movies/TV shows. To me, the musical content has been stripped away and reduced down to unrecognizeable themes that are ONLY intended to evoke emotions.

For example, can anybody sing the theme to “Lost”?

But I’ll bet you can sing the theme to “Full House”… right?

OK… that’s enough of my soapbox. Listen to this clip, grab a Bat’leth, and get to swinging.

As a musician, 90% of what you do is listening. Music is too much of a universal language to get stuck on one dialect. Therefore, today’s blog is dedicated specifically for you to LISTEN (to the clip provided), EXPAND (your thinking on music in a way that you may not have considered before), AND ROCK NOW (with more musical knowledge added to your repertoire)!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to this song. The video included in this blog is only intended to bring musical awareness to the reader.

Time to L.E.A.R.N.!

TODAY’S CLIP: A great percussion friend of mine texted me this video the other day and I just had to share it on the blog. This is a cover of “Not Forgotten” by Aaron Lindsey and Israel Houghton, but check out the musicianship applied to this song by The Red Camp. It will BLOW YOUR MIND! Check it out.

As a musician, 90% of what you do is listening. Music is too much of a universal language to get stuck on one dialect. Therefore, today’s blog is dedicated specifically for you to LISTEN (to the clip provided), EXPAND (your thinking on music in a way that you may not have considered before), AND ROCK NOW (with more musical knowledge added to your repertoire)!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to this song. The video included in this blog is only intended to bring musical awareness to the reader.

Time to L.E.A.R.N.!

TODAY’S CLIP: Today’s clip is dedicated to my “God-sister” (if such a technical title even exists–HAHAHA). Nonetheless, she’s an up-and-coming Gospel artist and recently debuted her first official song and music video which I definitely wanted to share with you today. This is “The Jesus Slide” by Grace Gilliam. If you didn’t think you could line dance for Jesus, then take a look at this video.

Check out more from her YouTube page at: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBvNCUNaIUEAKmCF0C1MmA

As a musician, 90% of what you do is listening. Music is too much of a universal language to get stuck on one dialect. Therefore, today’s blog is dedicated specifically for you to LISTEN (to the clip provided), EXPAND (your thinking on music in a way that you may not have considered before), AND ROCK NOW (with more musical knowledge added to your repertoire)!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to this song. The video included in this blog is only intended to bring musical awareness to the reader.

Time to L.E.A.R.N.!

TODAY’S CLIP: Since I’ve been writing on “challenges” this week, I thought I’d share a jazz standard that has ALWAYS challenged me. I came across it in college and was NOT a fan… of playing it. Love the actual piece, but love to hear others play it. This is John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” and for anybody who knows this song, you know the “challenges” associated with playing it. An awesome piece of geniusness, but also a challenging piece to play (for me anyway). Enjoy!

As a musician, 90% of what you do is listening. Music is too much of a universal language to get stuck on one dialect. Therefore, today’s blog is dedicated specifically for you to LISTEN (to the clip provided), EXPAND (your thinking on music in a way that you may not have considered before), AND ROCK NOW (with more musical knowledge added to your repertoire)!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to this song. The video included in this blog is only intended to bring musical awareness to the reader.

Time to L.E.A.R.N.! (Mother’s Day Edition)

TODAY’S CLIP: In honor of all the mothers around the world for this upcoming Mother’s Day weekend, I thought that this R&B goodie would be an awesome tribute. I present to you “A Song For Mama” by Boyz II Men. Enjoy!… and Happy Mother’s Day!

As a musician, 90% of what you do is listening. Music is too much of a universal language to get stuck on one dialect. Therefore, today’s blog is dedicated specifically for you to LISTEN (to the clip provided), EXPAND (your thinking on music in a way that you may not have considered before), AND ROCK NOW (with more musical knowledge added to your repertoire)!

What do you think? Shared wisdom makes us all stronger.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to this song. The video included in this blog is only intended to bring musical awareness to the reader.