After a false start, a successful Kickstarter campaign (also check out this link), and the filming of a dream, Blue Like Jazz will be debuted at SXSW on March 13th! General release of the film will be on April 13th. I hope to see it at the Angelika Film Center (or in wider distribution) in Houston, Texas… Don, are you reading this!? Continue reading
Author Archives: Matt
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Relevant Magazine’s “Why I Am a Christian <fill-in-the-blank>” Op-Eds
Over the past several weeks Relevant Magazine has posted three opinion pieces to their website written by Christians explaining why they believe and vote according to certain political principles. These pieces have all been interesting reads. I appreciate Relevant for giving each of these writers space to explain how Christianity has informed their political identities.
The first of the three posts was entitled The Rise of Christian Libertarians and was written by Caryn Dahlstrand Rivadeneira. The Republican viewpoint was entitled Why I Am a Christian Republican and was written by Matthew Lee Anderson. Why I Am a Christian Democrat was written by David Masciotra. I appreciate Relevant for “printing” these op-eds because it is important for Christians to reflect on how their Faith informs their thoughts and actions in the day-to-day, but also in big thought issues like politics. Continue reading
New Neal Morse Solo Album: Coming Soon!
Left to Right: Randy George, Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy
Randy George, bassist for the progressive rock band Ajalon and contributor to several Neal Morse solo projects, has recently posted a studio diary. This diary records the development and recording of Neal Morse’s current upcoming release (September 2012), tentatively named Momentum. George and drummer Mike Portnoy are each contributors to the release.
George reported that Momentum will be a song oriented album rather than a concept album consisting of six short songs and one 33-minute epic. Song titles, some tentative, reported by George are “Momentum,” the album’s title track, Thoughts – Part 3, Smoke and Mirrors, Weathering Sky, Lunar Creek, and what is intended to be the album’s final track, Freek. George didn’t give the name of the epic. Continue reading
Creation – God, Lewis, Tolkien, & Gungor
I love the creation story from the Bible; Genesis 1 & 2, the introduction to John’s gospel. ”In the Beginning…”
The biblical narratives are so poetic, so beautiful, so majestic. Whenever I come across how writers and artists have treated the story of creation in their works I’m always drawn back to the Bible. Two of my favorite depictions in literature of creation are C.S. Lewis’ and J.R.R. Tolkien’s. Each, in their epic tales (The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings), write the fictional universes as being created through singing and music; beautiful and fantastic imagery.
I’m not the only one who loves this imagery of creation through music. Page CXVI, a music group created to breathe life into old hymns, draws it’s name from the page number Lewis’ description of the creation of Narnia is found in the book, The Magician’s Nephew; where Aslan sings the universe and everything in it into existence. A band I recently discovered and have fallen in love with (Gungor), also depicts the universe as being created through music. In the first song off of their latest album Ghosts Upon the Earth, the opening lyrics pour out, “Darkness hovering, grasping everything it sees. Void. Empty. Absent life and absent dream. Let there be (Light).” Lovely.
All of these stories and descriptions, writers and musicians, have pushed me to create a mash-up of sorts. I’ve taken God’s words, Lewis’ words, Tolkien’s words, and Gungor’s music and have attempted to combine them into something new(ish). Below, you will find words from Genesis 1 and John 1, words from the passages containing Tolkien’s creation of Middle Earth, and from Lewis’ creation of Narnia. Before you begin reading, scroll down to the bottom of this post and start the video, which will play Gungor’s song, “Let There Be.”
Bored of the Same Old Christmas Music?
Every year in December, or for some of us even in November, we dig out our trusty and traditional Christmas tunes. Many of us will even add to our collection by purchasing the latest Christmas album from Harry Connick, Jr. or Michael Buble. But let’s be honest, while Connick, Buble, and others are certainly fantastic musicians and arrangers who put a bit of their own spin on the classic medleys, they never stray too far from the beaten path. Many of us though…well, at least some of us…okay, okay, one or two of us certainly, would like something different. Show us the versatility of the Christmas carol! Right!?
Right! So, for the one or two of you who would like to add some excitement to your Christmas listening repertoire, I have three albums for you that will certainly spice up your holidays! Continue reading
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