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Greetings!
A new month (or, for that matter, a new day) brings with it new
possibilities and opportunities, and sometimes, a change in
circumstances. This is the case for me. After 3 1/2 years as Worship
Arts Director for the Chestertown Church of the Nazarene, I am
stepping aside as of the 14th of this month. This is a time of
transition for the church, and, in many ways, for me. My very
full-time focus will be (remain) my performing career, and record
label. For now, this is what I am called to do. Thank you for your
interest in what I do. Now, about this month...
| Jazz Performances and Piano Entertainment
Concerts |
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This month is loaded with performances, both public and
private (a large part of the reason that I was late getting
this newsletter out, having over a dozen engagements in the
first week. Now it calms down - a little). Apart from the
variety of local (interpret that broadly) gigs, the big news
of the month is my trip to the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee with
the Midiri Brothers. This festival is huge! Link to the
festival site from my performance page and you'll know why I'm
wondering if I have unwittingly joined in a coup to take over
the city. Check it out...
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| Church Sponsored and Christian Music
Concerts |
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There are two church concerts this month. First, and
coincidentally, I have a solo concert (as part of the Second
Sunday Concert Series) at the Chestertown Church of the
Nazarene on 5/14 - my final Sunday on staff - at 5pm. The
following Sunday morning Brian Whitaker and I travel to Dover,
De. for a He's Steppin' Out Concert. Click on the link for
more details..
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| Radio News |
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The radio show marches on, and has become a part of my
routine. I enjoy this a lot, but am realizing that I need (an
increasing pool of) listeners to sustain this. If you listen
to, and enjoy the show (it's funny, I actually like listening
to it), then tell a friend. Along these lines, I will begin
(likely this week) sending out weekly programming
announcements to all mailing list subscribers (that includes
you). This, in addition to announcing the program contents,
will make it easy to tell a friend about Joe Holt's Notes on
the Radio.
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| From the Weblog |
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The past days have been emotionally occupied with the
finalizing of my resignation as Worship Arts Director of the
Chestertown Church of the Nazarene. What a roller coaster
(since the departure of Jonathan Mills last October)! A
portion of my letter (nothing confidential here) will suffice:
" As I have worn many emotions and feelings/opinions "on my
sleeve", you all know how difficult this decision has been for
me. Honestly though, for the past couple of months I have been
under a personal conviction that God has other plans for me
now. Stepping out in faith can be difficult when there are
many things about the status quo that you don't want to give
up or lose. Working here, in God's church in Chestertown has
been an amazing privilege, and a big part of me doesn't want
it to end. It, however, is no longer possible to juggle
responsibilities here against my career. I do not feel a
release (necessarily) from the calling outlined in my job
description, I do , however, believe that I have fulfilled
God's purposes for me here, now." Having a sense of calling,
and of a higher power and purpose is indeed a blessing. posted
by Joe Holt | Friday, April 14, 2006
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In Focus |
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In Focus this month is the unique jazz trio, comedy,
Christian, children's, for all ages CD: "He's Steppin' Out".
This recording features 11 original compositions and one jazz
standard (listed as a bonus track). The material for this
recording began with a collection of songs that I wrote for a
children's choir at the church in which I served in the early
1980's. This music has been "reborn" in this collection, and
joined to new original songs that I wrote specifically for
this project, and for individual singers: Jimmy Lawlor (I've
Got A Toothache), and my daughter Charie (Come As A Child).
This recording represents much of the material contained in
the live "He's Steppin' Out" concerts that you have
(potentially) read about in this newsletter.The songs are all
taken from, or directly related to specific Bible passages,
and are written to get the meaning across in a fresh new way.
Now, when is a children's CD not a children's CD? When it's
"He's Steppin" Out", which truly has something for everyone,
even the mature listener. An attempt, some years ago, to place
this recording on consignment in a Christian bookstore
resulted in a rejection on the following grounds; "It's too
sophisticated" (!). I'm proud of that one ("lowering the bar"
is not what I'm about). My inspiration for how I desire this
recording to communicate is the "Peanuts" comic strip by
Charles Schultz. In the strip, he uses a children's medium
(with direct appeal to them) to relay deep and often
sophisticated meaning. Adults and children both have something
to take away. I hope that I have accomplished this also. You
can be the judge View product page
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