Only 4

Our last night in the studio: Cam and Graydon working hard at laying down some mandolin for 'Coming Back', Michael talking to his wifey in the corner, and I stretched across the couch, checking my Facebook and Twitter every few minutes.

Since typically only one of us works at recording something with Cam at a time, there's been lots of down time (especially for me) during this whole process--lots of naps, lots of food/coffee/music runs, lots of lounging and listening. But I've loved being a part of it. Some instruments I've recorded on so far: piano, organ, pump organ, glockenspiel. The best part is making music and watching Cam take something we've created and make it bigger and better and stronger.

I'm pretty sure this has been my favorite experience of my life. Some things will never change after this; it's established: music forever.

Part I: When he reaches the piano...

we stand and applaud.

In the beginning was the voice. Then the first palm touched the second palm, and there was a clap. The man took skins and sinews and bones to make for himself the drum, the harp, the lyre. He found a reed and blew a whistle with that reed. He took brass and fashioned horns and cymbals with it.

When the cymbals crashed, the reed whistled, the lyre strummed, the drum beat, the hands clapped, and the voices rang--he danced! How did the sounds know what to do? The man learned, explored, discovered, invented, advanced.

But first, before the beginning, the conductor entered while the whole world was waiting, holding its breath. He reached the piano, and like ignited firecrackers, we stood to our feet and exploded in applause--praising him in advance for his control, his creative elegance.

Music Pick

My friend Jake introduced me to Phil Wickham sometime this last spring. I remember we were chatting in my classroom and all of a sudden he got really excited and started talking about Phil Wickham and how I needed to download his free album, etc., etc.

He promptly plugged his iPod into my speakers and began to play Phil's music. Jake was totally engrossed... I was working on my computer, thinking, Yeah, yeah. Later.

I just started listening to Phil's music on my own a couple weeks ago, and I did download his FREE album, "singalong" off of his website, which anyone reading this right now should do also, immediately: Phil Wickham: Singalong.

Listening to Phil Wickham's music reminds me of when I first discovered David Crowder. I was about 15 or 16 years old, experiencing real challenge and growth in my faith. I loved David Crowder from the first minor chord progression of "Make a Joyful Noise/I Will Not Be Silent" on the Lime CD.

This music was totally different from Vinyard, Tomlin, Redman, Maranatha, DcTalk, Amy Grant, Smitty... anything "Christian" I'd ever heard before. The music and lyrics contained genuine artistic depth, with a destination: Jesus. I find the same depth and destination in Phil Wickham's music and lyrics. Sweet revival.