We are delighted to learn that significant contributions have come to the Jazz Belongs in Church project. The generosity is overwhelming!
As we begin our IndieGoGo campaign, we have already received a grant from the Presbytery of Lackawanna to get the filming started. Hooray! Plus there's another big gift from our good friend Anonymous. Thanks to all! It's a busy Christmas rush for Bill, but when the tinsel is put away, we will start posting some of the video clips to help you imagine what we are doing.
Update - Publications on This Website - October 21, 2011
We have updated the website to offer more sheet music: two songbooks (from our last two CD projects), the PDF version of our jazz hymnal (Swing a New Song to the Lord), and all kinds of goodies - including the sheet music for "Welcome Home" and Bill's collection of jazz sermons and writings. Check it out at www.presbybop.com/products.html
Jazz Hymnal as PDF File - October 18, 2011
Hey everybody - our jazz hymnal, Swing a New Song to the Lord: Resources for Jazz Worship is now available as an e-book in PDF format. The book is chock-full of hymn settings, musical prayers, and instrumental music. It is available immediately as a download for $45, with permission granted for one-time copying for worship services, churches, and religious gatherings.
The phone has been ringing, the email buzzing. Looks like we will do an eight day Southern Fried Presbybop Tour in November, all in support of our new Interior Window CD!
This is exciting. To see the touring map as it is tentatively planned, click this link.
Dates are being added on our gig calendar page. Come and see us if we are in your neighborhood!
Take the Survey, Get Free Stuff - June 28, 2011
We want your input as we begin to put together a DVD called "Jazz Belongs in Church." Click on the link, give us your opinion, and we might draw your name for free stuff!
A gentle ending to a wonderful night - May 8, 2011
Thanks to all who came to our CD Release Concert for Interior Window. Here is the final blessing of the night, a gentle setting of the medieval chant "Adoro Te Devote."
A great way to begin a jazz concert - May 6, 2011
Here is the opening tune from last week's CD concert. Enjoy "Iona Morning"!
See the story behind the new CD - April 27, 2011
Great interview with Bill on NPR - April 23, 2011
Recently Bill dropped by our local NPR station for an interview about the new CD, "Interior Window." The interviewer was very insightful (much more so than Bill!). Listen to the interview here.
Nice tribute to Bill - April 21, 2011
Our good friend Jeff Kellam wrote a very nice tribute to Bill. You can find it on his blog. Thanks, Jeff, for your friendship. The affirmation is mutual.
Interior Window CD Update - February 5, 2011
We are happy to report that our new Interior Window CD is moving along. After a very successful partnership campaign through IndieGoGo.com, we raised the necessary funds to produce our new recording. THANKS to the 68 people who joined as partners. We are grateful for the encouragement, support, and positive buzz that has been created.
The more exciting news is that we have also had a great day in the recording studio. So great, in fact, that we recorded twelve excellent tracks in about six hours. I am grateful to Al, Tony, and Ron for their superb musicianship. This new recording will be something very special, and we look forward to sharing it with you. Keep in touch for further updates, and we will do the same.
Even though our partner campaign has concluded, it is still possible to donate to the project. The Interior Window project is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of the Interior Window Project may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extend permitted by law. To make a charitable donation, just click below:
Postponed: 2011 Jazz and the Church Conference - December 13, 2010
Sometime next year, we hope to hold a Jazz and the Church Conference at the Stony Point Center, 17 Cricketown Road, Stony Point, NY 10980. A conference blog has been set up at http://jazzinchurch.blogspot.com to share plans, to begin conversations, and to build awareness.
You can sign up as a "Follower" on the blog to receive news and to take part in the conversations. Invite your friends and save the dates!
Our new project - Help us get there! - October 20, 2010
We are pleased to announce that a new recording is in development. Want to know what we are doing? Want to help us get there? Click the icon, watch the film, and help us out!
New Dates Added - September 4, 2010
Check out new calendar dates for Fall 2010. Hope to see you in our travels!
New Book: Jazz in the Pulpit - August 20, 2010
We are delighted to announce a new book by Bill Carter, which is exclusively available on our website. The new work is called Jazz in the Pulpit – Biblical Reflections on the Syncopated Art.
Almost twenty years in preparation, it includes nineteen sermons that Bill has preached around the country, all of them offering biblical reflections on the art of jazz. Also included are three of the major speeches that he has given at national conferences. There is no other book like this. Bill thinks theologically about jazz – and this remarkable work is the fruit of his work.
The book is over 100 pages long. It is published as an e-book in PDF format. It is instantly available at http://www.oronjo.com/live/next/?fi=73984 for an introductory price of $10 through PayPal.
Bill Carter will present some music and a workshop as part of the “Songs for Peace and Justice” conference, held October 10-14 at the Stony Point (NY) conference center.
We have a Facebook page - with sound and video clips. Look for “Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quartet.” Sign up as a friend and be the first to get updates and news!
Thanks to all who took our recent survey! - June 3, 2010
We asked for helpful input on our next album – and lots of people answered the call. Three lucky winners were selected for a free Presbybop CD of their choice: Mary Lou, Judy, and Jill. If you wanted to offer input but did not have the chance, you can still visit the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/CJLXGP5
We're taking a quick survey - May 16, 2010
We want your input about our next CD. Three lucky people who reply will receive a CD or DVD of their choice!
Hello everybody - We have been posting video clips on YouTube. They give an excellent view of what one of our jazz services looks like. Here are the clips thus far, with web links:
Check out the Christmas Podcast Show! - December 15, 2009
Hello everybody - and Merry Christmas! Our Christmas edition of "The Spirit of Jazz" Podcast is now available. Listen or subscribe at http://www.presbybop.com/blog/.
Also, for a limited time, you can download a free copy of "Angels We Have Heard On High," a great tune from our Fragile Incarnation album. Right-click and save this link: http://www.presbybop.com/audio/BILL_CARTER_AND-Angels_We_Ha_hifi.mp3. It's available for ten days, until December 25.
Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas from Bill and the gang at Presbybop Music
The Podcast is HOT - November 21, 2009
Be sure to check out "The Spirit of Jazz" podcast. You can listen and subscribe at http://www.presbybop.com/blog/. Three shows are produced, and a Christmas show is coming very soon. Sign on and explore the connections between jazz and faith!
The Podcast is LIVE! - October 19, 2009
Hi everybody -
Our new podcast is LIVE! It's called "The Spirit of Jazz." You can find the first two episodes at http://www.presbybop.com/blog/. Check them out and let us know what you think!
