A (partial) Return to Worship Ministry

Christ United Methodist Church: the physical focal point of yet another who'dve thunk it development in my multi-track (but somehow synchronous) world. Faith Souders (a local pianist/organist) contacted me some weeks ago to fill in a few dates for her. She then informed me that the organist with which she shares the position does not wish to continue in the new year. I have accepted the opportunity to share this role with Faith as we move forward. Was tempted, for a time, to take another crack at re-working up the organ chops, but quickly settled into this as a piano only (ad)venture. Though I will miss my friends at PCC, this is kind of a best of both worlds thing, as I will still have opportunity to attend when Faith is at CUMC (or when I am energetic enough to go to PCC first, then zip over to Christ Methodist. One is at 9:30, and the other 11am). 
With the exception of next Sunday morning (12/23), I will be at the piano at CUMC every Sunday thru 2/10/13, as well as Christmas eve (at 7pm). If you have followed my blog for awhile, you know of my connection to worship ministry, service music, and traditional hymns. The itch is now being scratched. Kind of the happy puppy being scratched behind the ears feeling. Get the feeling that the congregation feels okay about this as well   :)

Annual Christmas Carol Hymn Sing

On Sunday, December 16, at 6pm, I'm privileged to return to the Alliance Family Fellowship, in Dover DE (meeting on the campus of Westminster Village), for their annual Christmas Carol Hymn Sing service.  i've known the pastor, Ken xxxx for some time, going back to when he was the chaplain of Westminster Village, and I entertained the Health Care residents. Though Seniors from the Independant Living community attend the services, the church has a strong ministry to the community at large. This hymn sing is a joyful opportunty for all to bask in the meaning of the Christmas season. 

Thursday Jazz and Blues Night at Old Bay Steak House

The Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival added Old Bay Steak House to it's list of local venues (which I referred to as " the trenches" earlier in my journal blog) for Jazz Fesdtival weekend this year. Spontaneous Invention (featuring Dave Schiff - pictured from the festival weekend) took the happy hour slot, and blew the house down. Old Bay has now partnered with the Festival to continue Jazz (and blues) throughout the year. The stable of bands continues to grow, so it's all a work in progress. In December, (Mike and) I will be there on (Thursdays) December 13 with Shore Jazz (with Cody Leavel on sax), and December 27 (with Dave). Come out and support Old Bay, and the musicians that make it happen.

Joe Holt's Notes mp3 Subscription Plan.

When a new CD is released, it is the final outcome of a long path, sometimes over many years. Many paths are traveled; visited and revisited. When the financial opportunity is realized for me to release a new project, I literally have to pick one. Since I began releasing CDs in 2000, I am up to nine (and if you are not familiar with them, you can find them here). More CD releases are coming, but now, here’s an new, easy and really affordable way to grow your collection of my piano recordings beginning right now: to become a Joe Holt’s Notes mp3 subscriber. Here's how it works:
Every Monday, a new mp3 track will be delivered to your e-mail inbox. The music will vary from week to week, and span the scope of my private collection to include:

Live (concert) performances
Original Improvisations
Studio recordings
Radio show performances.
Pre (album) release tracks
Exclusive content (for subscribers only)

I have many recording projects in progress, literally dozens, so don't worry about the well running dry. If I don't record another note for several years, your inbox still won't miss a beat. And about the exclusive content: Not everything is going to make it's way to a physical product that can be purchased. Some tracks that never see pressing will still make their way to download sites (check out my CD Baby page), but others will not. As a subscriber you not only will have exclusive access to some tracks, you will receive everything else first, before anyone else can purchase it. In some cases a track will be made available for download (on CD Baby and related sites) soon after you receive it, but in every case, you have it first.

So if I have this massive collection, why not release them all at once? First, the financial piece is not the only part of the administration process. A lot of listening, editing, organizing and soul searching goes in to this. Once something is out there, I can't take it back. So you know you will not be accumulating a collection of outtakes and reject tracks. Everything you receive is potentially something that will eventually make it's way to a CD release. And some of it will. So you will have it first, and in some cases you will own what no one else can buy. Secondly, a dam serves a purpose. A controlled release will blend right in with the ebb and flow of everything else. Opening the floodgates (or destroying the dam) usually creates chaos.

A Joe Holt’s Notes mp3 subscription is as affordable as it is easy.

Only $5/month (3 month minimum) - 3 months/$15
Special offer - 6 months/$25 (buy 5 get 1 free).
Order online at www.joeholtsnotes.com
(though the offer begins today, the website order form may take a few days to reflect changes. Just e-mail me, and we can get started.).
It's that easy.