(FAT) Tuesday, February 21st, 2023.
Hey, it’s TJ Miller, “you want some game?” Let's #tipundathehat!
For the best indie music from indie artists, click, and follow Indie Artist Of The Week Unda The Hat. This week, VICTOR VC CALDWELL. Be sure to hit the like button and follow this amazing group of indie artists. They will be major soon
Gospel Hybrid - Let’s go -
Well, happy Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras er’body! Get you some gumbo, Étouffée, a hurricane, and some beads, show your……titivating second-line dance moves and Laissez les bons temps rouler.
So if you look at the history of music one of the oldest genres is sacred music. In American music that would be Gospel, and it’s natural to see that this genre has had a significant impact on different genres worldwide. Gospel music has been a source of inspiration and solace since its inception. It can be called African American Traditional Folk music blended with religious hymns. Basically, you can say it started as a hybrid. A hybrid is something that is made by combining two different elements; a mixture. We could actually write a book on what and how gospel music influenced other styles as well as how other styles influenced gospel. I always thought it very interesting that the “father of the blues” WC Handy, a PK (Preachers Kid) was once a big-time gospel musician. While Thomas Dorcy the “father of Gospel Music” was once a big-time blues musician. Gospel has had an indelible mark on American music and vice versa. Many Jazz players started off playing Gospel music at church before transitioning to Jazz full-time. And naturally, they brought many Gospel piano techniques to their Jazz playing. The bridge between the two genres I would have to say is blues. They are all acutely related as if they were first cousins born to Triplets.
If you were to ask Gospel Jazz artists what’s the biggest difference between the two, most would say the message. Most jazz songs, like any popular genre, are about the song, the beat, the swing, the groove, the lyrics; or even the artist. Gospel, however, is going to be a song about God or a song TO God, but God and the message are the focal points of Gospel/Jazz like any traditional Gospel song. Differences between Gospel and Jazz. Musically speaking Gospel music features composition, while jazz is more about improvisation. In addition, Gospel music utilizes straight rhythms and incorporates chord structures and progressions corresponding to a melody. Jazz on the other hand is about swing and blues rhythms and pushes further into more adventurous harmonic, melodic, and modal expressions and improvisations.
In an interview with New York jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator John Raymond, conducted by TGC (The Gospel Coalition), considered this question: “How has becoming a Christian shaped your work?” He answered, “The Lord has used Jazz to make me into someone who trusts him. Jazz is improvised and messy. When performing, I don’t know exactly where my fellow bandmates or I am going. This spontaneity runs right up against my impulse to control. But God has used jazz to teach me to trust his grace, let go of my grasp, and live moment by moment through the Spirit. And this hasn’t just shaped how I play music; it has also shaped how I parent, how I teach, and more.”
Known as the Godfather of Gospel Jazz Ben Tankard has been at the forefront of the genre for quite a while. Many jazz greats have also released either full gospel projects with their jazz stylings like Kirk Whalum and Jonathan Butler. One name that has been a strong force in the background of the genre is Victor VC Caldwell. He has written, produced, engineered, sung on, and has over 140 credits to his discography. For him, like most Gospel Jazz artists music is just the expression of the gift given by God.
This week's #IAOTW - Independent Artists Of The Week is - Victor VC Caldwell. Originally from Chattanooga Tennessee, VC has either played on or produced the likes of Joe Sample, Whitney Houston's "Jesus Loves Me" on The Bodyguard movie soundtrack, and CeCe Winans' gold Grammy-winning album "Alone In His Presence." Click on his name link, scroll down to his picture, then click and support. You won’t believe how much you will dig this.
For more information on this or to hire Unda The Hat as your brand or label consultant send a message via undathehat.com. See you next week!!