About Me
I love the writings of George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, Dorothy Sayers, G.K. Chesterton, Owen Barfield, and Joy Davidman. I especially appreciate their works which explore relationship with God; also, their imaginative writings (such as At the Back of the Northwind, The Gifts of the Child Christ, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings) and those books and essays which deal with creativity. My own "musical vision" can be summed up by a quote from George MacDonald: "A poet is someone who is glad of something and wants to make others glad of it too."
My favorite band on planet earth is "Iona" (Celtic progressive rock). They are what I call one of the best examples of spiritual purity and artistic integrity.
I love just about every kind of music, including Celtic, Israeli folk music, Jazz, Classical, Opera, folk-rock, Renaissance, Flamenco, Rhythm and Blues, etc., with a wide range of artists including Chick Corea, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Donald Byrd, Ron Carter, Tim Weisberg, Clannad, Lick the Tins, The Spinners, Kathleen Battle, Itzhak Perlman, King Pleasure, The W's, Ofra Haza, Davka, The Gipsy Kings, Flight 180, Willie Nelson, Leontine Price, Shelley Rogers, Charlie Mingus, Cyrus Chestnut, Mannhiem Steamroller, Marty Goetz, Wynton Kelly, Lamb, Enya, Chuck Girard, Eden's Bridge, Andrae Crouch, Michael and Jeff Danna, Love Song, Trisan, Fred Fields, Erick Nelson, Maire Brennan, Bud Powell, Kenny Burrell, Dave Grusin, The Four Freshmen, Billy Preston, Modern Jazz Quartet, The Crusaders, The Hi Lo's, The Group, John Michael Talbot, Terry Clark, Fernando Ortega, Love, Blind Faith, The Impressions, The Beach Boys, Stevie Wonder, Crosby Stills and Nash, The Five Satins, The Beatles, Mary Black, Two or More, Bering Strait, Burlap to Cashmere, and many varied more ... music is, simply, a good thing! I have played music most of my life and it has been and is a constant wealth of unfolding beauty. I am a die-hard romantic. Through all of life's difficulties and changes, my love for what is beautiful and belief in what is good have only deepened. God is good.
Our gifts (music, poetry, painting, etc.) are from God--and I believe that our finest appreciation of them and their best use are realized when we are in touch with, indeed in union with Him, the Creator of all things. He turns water into wine. How does one come into union with Him? That's what Jesus is all about. He is the greatest Someone I am glad about and want to see others glad about too. He is wonderful and great and beautiful beyond all imagining. Of all the aspirations I've had as a musician, I find no greater thing than to sing in the house of the true and living God. He is the answer for the longing heart.
