Ellen
March 1, 2013
I keep checking your schedule for something within an hour or so of York! Listen to your CDs ALL the time!
I keep checking your schedule for something within an hour or so of York! Listen to your CDs ALL the time!
Saw your concert on WVIA and loved it. You guys are great. Thanks for the glorious renditions of some of my favorite carols.
Hi, Bill...I came across your page on Facebook, just wanted to say hi after all these years! So glad to hear you've successfully combined your passions to the good of all. Clips sound great!
I bought your CDs some time ago. Participating in a New Years Eve party and worship in a prison for women last evening brought Babylon Blues to mind. Thanks for an authentic reading of Psalm 137.
The Jazz Communion Service at 1st Pres this morning was an experience of joy-filled praise!
Our daughter has a musician friend, Lane Stowe, who will enjoy hearing you. Off to the Touring Schedule section.
Indeed, God has blessed all of you to be blessings! Thank you so much for persevering...I remember the early days when not all "hurrumph! sayers" lived in Western PA.
Peggy Gorman
Hello! I heard y'all play at a pastors' retreat in Utah several years ago, and it was such a blessing. Someone recently mentioned "Swing a New Song to the Lord" as a jazz hymnbook, and it sounded inviting. How do I find a copy?
I'll know more about your work soon! Take a look at my blog about Christian Jazz. It's www.christianjazz.blogspot.com
Your concert at Chautauqua on July 25, 2010 was a special treat. I especially loved "Welcome Home". It would make a nice song for our weary soldiers returning from battle.
You have successfully married the art form of mainstream jazz with the liturgy of the church. It glorifies God and sets an example of what's possible for generations to come.
Mark Terwilliger gave me the link. And I'm glad he did. Listened to the examples and was much impressed. The standard of musicianship of all is excellent.
Greetings of peace from the UK
I considered driving to Chautauqua for the Sacred Song service with Presbybop this Sunday, but decided that I'd better stay home and sell my house. It was very tempting though! That is my home territory and a grand opportunity for the "venerable old institution" to hear your wonderful take on music and faithful worship. Break a leg! Marilyn Myers
Howdy cuz.... not sure why I haven't visited your site before. Dang, I missed the Internet survey.
Hey Bill. Do not know if you remember, but you've baptized both of our kids Zachary (22) and Larissa (21)@ 1st Pres/Catasauqua back in 1986-87. Just stumbled onto your site and wanted to wish you the best in your spiritual and musical endeavors. It's good to see you enjoying life through music. I personally bought a Korg M3-88 last year, and I can tell you I'm loving the sounds that thing is capable of. A fan of jazz myself. If you find the time, please drop my wife Deb a line or two. She has spoke highly of you.
Take care, Dave.
I play Tenor in a Christian Jazz Group here in Kelowna BC Canada. We are called the CROSS FIRE QUINTET, we play alot of original compositions by our leader Malcolm Green. We are HONOURING OUR LORD in music. Enjoyed your website and have forwarded the url to Malcolm. Keep up the GREAT WORK you are doing, jazz in the church is a musical delight
Hi Bill from Australia! I'm a jazz saxophonist in Sydney and based at St Andrew's Cathedral. It's been an encouragement to view your site today.
God bless you in Christ,
|Richard
www.richardmaegraith.com
Christian Jazz! Hallelujah, what a concept! I Love it. I'm a fairly 'new' Presbyterian (4 years) which is probably why I'm just now finding our about your music and PresbyBop. But I've been a jazz fan since my early teens. My first album was Dave Brubeck's "Red Hot & Cool". So you can see why I loved your music the minute I heard it! Love the picture with Dave, by the way. Are you going to be playing anywhere in the Central Ohio area in the upcoming months? Keep swingin' and praisin'! Susan
I had talked to Connie Page. She told me about the group. I am an avid jazz music lover. Please drop me an e-mail and let me know where your next gig is. I am am looking forward to hearing the group play. God bless all. Caesar.
I'm a seminary student. My background is classical piano music. However, I really like playing jazz when I listened to the jazz music. Imporvisation, communication, and rhythm that makes me very excited.
I thought I can use jazz to worship God.
But, some of my friends and pastors have opposite opinion.
I'm trying to find some resources and information to write about jazz in church for one of my theology paper.
While searching some of information, I found your web site.
I really like your heart for God.
I also want to be a true worshiper by using various sound and true heart.
GOd bless you!
Hey Bill,
It's been awhile, like about 30 years if I recall. I get the Presbybop e-mails and just wanted to say hello after all these years post Owego Youth Group days. Remember those? Remember the trip back from The Mahler camp Vermont retreat through "feet" of snow. I know you don't remember - you "kids" all slept while I drove! I'm out there singing some jazz these days and love hearing everything you're doing with jazz. Love listening to your stuff.
Hi Bill, I heard your music a few months back on KBEM radio out of Minneapolis and I really liked what I heard. Please keep on spreading the word of God through jazz! Any word on when the hymnal might come back into print?
Brian
Anxiously waiting for the hymnal to be available. Thanks! Rod
Your wife is in my Sound & Symbol class. I was wondering if you had any compilation CDs of Jazz History I might be able to use for my Sound & Symbol class? I am unable to listen to your music because the sound files won't open properly. Advise?
Michele
Bill, It was fantastic to see you again. Made me fondly remember our old times in high school. I don't do that often. I'm listening to "Welcome Home" right now. What a beautiful song. Hope to catch you in concert again... or just to keep catching up on times gone by.
Hello Pastor Bill:
We (my wife, my pastor and his wife, our church organist and myself) attended the Jazz Vespers today at Clark Summit. We are all from Williamsport. What a wonderful service! Low key, and very appropriate to the Lenten season. Some great jazz, too! Thank you for all that you do for the church...and for spreading the Word through live jazz. We'll give this a try at our church later this Spring. I think, I hope...that, if our hearts and minds are where they should be... we will be successful in our efforts. Just like you!
All best to you...
In His service,
Tom Shellenberger
Chancel Choir Director
Covenant Central Presbyterian Church
Williamsport, PA
What an incredible ministry!
Y'all need to provide some HTML code/MIDI files that can be uploaded to our churches' websites!
Hi, Bill. Miss you a lot, hope all is well with you. I am living in Camp Hill, PA, trying to answer the Spirit's "recall" to ministry. Please pray for me. God bless.
David
Hi! I just came back from the Synod of the Northeast meeting where I was the YAD for Susquehanna Valley. It was so great to hear Warren perform. I bought the Welcome Home CD at the Stony Point store and love it! Also, Bill, I rode to the Synod meeting with your parents. They were very kind to me, and I'm glad that I got the opportunity to meet them! Keep up the great work!
Bill, I loved surfing your blog a bit. Your pictures and comments brought back memories of our visits to Iona for my sabbatical a couple years ago. When we were together in Florida I thought you mentioned something about going to a Benedictine Monastery on your sabbatical. Did you do that? And which one? How was it? Was there one in British Columbia that you looked at? Blessings. I am looking forward to our time in January and catching up more. Grace and Peace, Michael
Hi, great site!
My pastor, who is from Pittsburg, told me about your site, so I just listened to several of your pieces and heard your sermon from 9/3/06. All very enjoyable. I'm a singer, choir director, music teacher, and organist/accompanist at St. Mark Presbyterian in Newport Beach, CA. Your music is inspiring -- and if you're ever in CA, our congregation would love to have you put on a concert! Pastor's name is Gary Collins. Do you know him? Loved the picture of Chimney Rock, as Ghost Ranch is a favorite place for my family and for many in our church -- very inspiring, indeed! Keep up the good music.
Great web page, Bill. Hope to see you at Communion tomorrow.
Deb P
Hi, Reverend Carter... on the first anniversary of my Father's passing, I came across your web site. I enjoyed reading about your sabatical, sounds like it has been wonderful for you. I'm sure everyone in Clarks Summit is missing you and will relly benefit from your experience. Thanks again, for everything you and the members of your church did for my folks, I'll be forever grateful.
I LOVE what you are doing! I am an assistant music director at St. Andrew Presbyterian in Iowa City, IA by night and a middle school band director by day. We have just recently formed a big band at our church and I'm looking for ways to fuse it into our service. I'm not much of a composer, but I can arrange. I'll look forward to buying some sheet music from you!!
Lee Rabe
I love the CD, my only regret is that you did not include "A Balm in Gilead" on the CD, but maybe next time.
we have had jazz in our churh and would like to know if you are ever in the Orlando Fl area for a potential concert.
maybe we can help you set up something this ... of course in the winter time...I am think a winter time swing thing for boomers etc.
I live in Mt Dora Florida.. who by the way would be a great place for a concert
By His hand of grace
PB
Great blog. Enjoy life. Looking forward to your return and stories
Thank you - God deserves the best!
Stephen
I am so excited that the course of Jazz is winding through the Christian community. I have loved Jazz for years, and as a pastor myself, I’ve caught a frown or two when I have disclosed my love for it. I also like the fact that Christian musicians are moving away from jazzy sounding “instrumentals†(which are fine) to actual jazz forms.
I knew I was going to like you guys when I saw your name “Presbybop†And your sound is exactly what I hoped to hear as I checked it out. Looking forward to grabbing some CDs.
Steve
Lighthouse Community Church
Madison, TN
Hello Guillermo, I hope you have a great sabbatical, sounds very interesting, I'm looking forward to hearing the stories.
I am still listening to the wonderful music on the CD's that I purchased. I enjoyed so much the services in Salem in February. I am eagerly awaiting the newest CD.
What a small world we do live in to find out that there is somewhere else in NE PA to visit.
YEA Princeton! Dad was Class of 1939.
Very much appreciated and loved Bill's message on Sunday Feb 12 at Salem's FPC. It was a rare treat to have both the great musical treat and the excellent spiritual undertones supporting all that happened.
I live in Salem, OR and am looking forward to hearing you here in morning church and evening concert on Feb.12 at First Pres.
I am 81 years old and wonder if you have heard of the Red Norvo Trio which played what I call soft jazz. I have a 45 RPM of it which I used to dust to and feed my babies to. Easy listening.
Hey there,
I was introduced to you and your music two years ago in October at a seminar in Kentucky. I enjoy staying connected and keeping up with your latest endeavors.
Patti
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your song, "Welcome Home". It is really beautiful and it really spoke to me yesterday. Thank you.
I live in southern California. I direct our church choir, and play jazz sax {4of them}. I do music arranging for female vocalists in the area. I have trouble relating jazz to formal religious ceremonies etc.
Hey Bill, Love Peyto Lake- I've been there 3 times and the Bow Valley is my favorite place on earth! We used to stay at lake Louise for a few weeks. Have you been to the Columbia Ice Fields?
Keep up the great music and preaching the word- they go together in my head too. We still have fond memories of you guys at Northumberland Presbytery. let's do it again! God's best to ya'll, Steve
Hey Uncle Bill, everything looks great! I'm looking forward to seeing Welcome Home come out. Hope to see you sometime soon.
Website looks great. And now all the links even work on my computer. =)
Love the music too, gives me something to listen to besides Brubeck, which while good gets old. Thanks!
Hi Bill,
Glad to see that you're doing well. Love the new look of your web-page. Keep in touch! ~ Ungala :)
Hey! This looks great. A wonderful place to come and relax with some great music. The coffee smells wonderful!
Hi Bill -
I like the look of the new web site. Hope you and the rest of the group are having a good Fall. Later!
Cindy Pennington
Bill,
I've left Buffalo and accepted the call to full time music ministry here in Sunny Fredericksburg,VA. We began a third service in September, that I'm writing some Jazz arrangements for, plus the rector, Jim Dannals, wants a Jazz Service at Christmas. Thanks for your inspiration.
God's Peace,
JHV
Hi Bill,
Nice looking site. I'm thinking about a sabbatical that would focus on jazz music in worship…maybe a pastor/guitar player in residence idea. I would like to talk to you about it sometime.
Craig