Djembe and Didj workshop at the kids tent

8/28/07

Sorry for those who check this that I've taken so long to update this. One day I'll find someone that is a good website programmer and this thing will be easier to update and look a lot better. Until then I will procrastinate and be more frequent with myspace.com...

But in a nutshell Cornerstone was awhile back and was great!! I played a few solo performances, as well as collaborations with Flatfoot 56, Josh Garrels and the Psalters. I did a couple workshops with Psalter Jay and throatsinging Bryan at the kids tent, hungout with some killer people from Munice Alliance Church, made lots of coffee and smoothies, and saw some great bands (mewithoutyou)!!!

Since then I've played a bunch of shows here around Wilmington,, played a few bagpipe performances, played at a coffee shop in Ohio, and just recently shot out west to Baja and San Diego for a wedding, lots of surfing, and a few collaborations with Josh Garrels. So things have been busy, not to mention preparing for the Christian Surfers National Conference 2007 in Cocoa Beach, FL on Oct 17-20.

I'm stoked on all the blessings and music and relationships that continue to grow and seem to have really blossomed on this most recent trip. A huge shout out to Uncle Mike for his generosity and love in taking in a bunch of stranded surfing travelers with no place to lay their heads. To all the friends made and built upon thank you as well for your fellowship and friendship. It was a blessed trip and not just because we scored empty lineups in Baja and Lower Trestles! Though that was pretty awesome!!

Josh Garrels playing Russell Brownley's wedding

Summertime means one thing! CORNERSTONE!!! I'm almost there right now. My good friend Matt Grubb volunteered to fit me and my plethora of instruments and camping gear into his minivan along with 3 great kids from his youth group...TJ, Nicole, and Sam. After averting disaster in Wilmington with my wife's car trying to drop the engine in the middle of road outside of Jacksonville. So instead of Virginia, it was to her rescue I went. 5 hours later she was safely back to Wilmington, our car in the shop, and I was off to VA! A night with the Grubbs left me with some great conversations with Matt and Sarah Lynn's 2 and 3 year olds and a huge knot on my head from the hatchbacks of our minivans while packing. They also filled my belly which was both delicious and awesome!

After 9 hours of drving through the Blueridge Mts and tiny corn crops compared to the southern fields, we stopped for a swim and an amazing dinner prepared by my wife's father. moving on to the next gracious host, I sit now in my good friend Ollie's house. Maurice, another one of the Sacred Intent brothers, is hanging out and it is way past our bedtimes...Tomorrow night at 9pm worship with the Psalters on the Beach Stage...Peace Out!!

Easter and spring bring new things...Check out the ART section and Myspace for new shows, exlanations of things, and the Josh Garrels tour starting April 25th at Newport News, going to Richmond, Nags Head, coming through Wilmington and ending at Elon, May 1...www.myspac.com/jasonandremusic

March 16th, 2007

I am officially releasing my first real album. It is short and I'm calling it an ep because one day it would be nice to put it on vinyl thereby using correct vernacular. Until then, it is available in CD form. It has 4 songs and has been professionally mastered by Don Zientara from Inner Ear Studios in DC (the guy who recorded and produced all of the recordings of early 80's DC punk bands like Bad Brains, Minor Threat, and Fugazi). They are home made, well produced albums, each one created with love for the listener. I'm really excited to be taking the first steps in putting the words and melodies the Lord has given me out into the general public these past few months and hope that these songs encourage and edify those who listen to them and ultimately bring glory to our loving powerful Lord who brings faith to the hopeless and strength to the humble!

You can either pick one up from me at a show (check www.myspace.com/jasonandremusic) or order one by emailing me at jasonandremusic@yahoo.com

Peace Out!!

February 10, 2007

It is with great excitement that I let the free world wide web know of the great things the Lord is doing with Jada and I here in Wilmington. First off, the Scooter Raynor Benefit concert was a blast. It came and went relatively quickly, so if you didn't hear about it, it wassn't for a lack of trying. We raised upwards of around $10,000+ for Scooter and his family through the concert. Mojo Collins did some killer foot stompin surf guitar blues. Chris Denning put on a smooth styling performance. Grade kicked it up a notch with some punk rock anthems. Then the 7 Method finished it off with some very polished, tight, hardcore melodies. A very diverse night, musically, but also in the guest speakers and hosts. Daniel Cerquera and I hosted the event, which gave me the opportunity to throw down some pipes onstage, and give Bruno his first (and definately not last) public apearance. Pastor CLay Ritter gave a loving gospel message, while Scooter himself slowly walked up and sat down to express his humble appreciation to all who were involved and in attendance. I never really stopped moving long enough to really enjoy the whole thing for more than 30 seconds at a time, so I caught bits and pieces. It was great though, and has opened the doors for a second benefit concert in the near future.

In other news, the annual Josh Garrels east coast spring tour will get under way starting April 23rd in Boone, NC going through CNU in Virginia the 25th, Richmond the 26th, Nags Head,NC the 27th, Wilmington the 28th, and finishing off in Elon May 1st. Jessica McClean is confirmed to be opnening in Nags Head and the Psalters are rumored to be appearing in Boone...keep your ears peeled!

Jason Andre (me) will also be busy in the coming month. I've excitedly booked my first solo show here in Wilmington at the ever inviting Connection Cafe, which serves as a second home to many of Wilmington's coffee lovers and wireless geeks such as myself. That will be February 24th at 8pm and then St Patricks Day on March 17th I'll be kilted for an all day celebration in Emerald Isle with the Port City Pipes and Drums, after which we will somehow stumble back to Wilmington and to Landfall for another St Patty's party. The Guinness will be flowing like the Cape Fear River (Black, opaque, foamy, and slightly disgusting)! So if you're in town during any of these times, it would be great to see you!
Peace!
Jason

After an incredible show and an awesome time of dancing and playing music with Josh Garrels w/ Jay and Matt from the Lions and the Psalters over Halloween...

(insert: If you had other things going on Halloween night I feel sorry for you. It was an intense moving flood of music and energy that nigth at Calvary Chapel. My brothers ("the brothas") from Sacred Intent sent donw a love offering in their stead along with some CD's and posters to give away. Josh played some solo songs, followed by a set with Jay and Matt on bass and drums, followed by another set with Jay, Matt, and me on didj and djembe, ending with YHWH where a couple of the Psalters jumped up with us. It was pretty rad and really fun!! Then the Psalters did their intro set with me on saz, which was only appropriate as it's a Turkish instrument and the show was to raise money for them to got to Turkey. I must admit that playing with those brothers and sisters is a pretty intense experience. The night bounded along with the enchanting middleeastern melodies and old spiritual chants and ended with me hopping on their bus and filling them up with some used veggie oil from around town.)

...a couple of interesting movie premiers and a couple of contests with Christian Surfers I've taken to hibernating in my hobbit hole piecing together some new songs. Working with as little as possible as far as instruments go, and really honing in on the recording process and all its intricacies I feel as though I've accomplished my goal to create some sounds I'm very pleased with for the time being. Accomplished in giving some digital storage of sound files a little bit of life. The songs I compiled last year I feel were a good start but lacked much and may hopefully have some life breathed into them at some point in time. But so it is in the ever seeking artists mind I suppose to never be content and never stop learning...and hopefully improving.

It's the greatest lesson I learned from being a ceramist. Making pottery over and over and over and a hundred times over to get that perfect mug or bowl. Each time altering it a little bit, until on that 101st piece you reach that perfectly formed lip, that perfectly even curved body, and a sturdy asthetic foot. The hardest lesson is learning how to destroy all the previous works back into dust and water giving them the chance to be a perfect work some day. Then only are you able to present something of worth, that stands alone, and can be reproduced for others to enjoy.

You can visit www.myspace.com/jasonandremusic to hear the new selection just in time for the holiday season. Soon I'll be playing these more regularly to a live audience aside form the Lord whom they're mostly intended. Soon also I'll stuff myself back into my hobbit hole to start editing another documentary about the Christian Surfers Annual East Coast Campout in Cape Hatteras. Until next time Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

PS it's cold here without a heater...

ALLRIGHT!!!! Oct 31st is coming up quick! We got a venue and confirmation from Josh and the Psalters to be here in Wilmington for a killer performance. We've got a venue too, PRAISE THE LORD!!
Calvary Chapel of Wilmington
2831 Carolina Beach Rd
Wilmington, NC 28412

Do yourself a favor and be there!!!
It's looking to be an outdoor concert if weather and permits permit...But their indoor facility is awesome too if we need to fall back.
We're going to shoot for 7pm
and the cost is going to FREE!!
I ask only that you donate something to the Psalters after all it's why they agreed to comne visit us and bless us with their haunting middle eastern sounds!
Continue praying for the event and contact me if you have any questions or want to help out in any way.
I've also heard rumor that Josh may have some backup with him...shhh don't tell anyone though!

Halloween Mini Music Fest:

An idea was layed on me to try and assemble a few of the most unknown, yet powerful musicians I've had the enormous blessing of befriending on Tuesday, Oct 31st here in Wilmington. I would like to ask all who visit here and read this to pray for the event and all the details which are yet undetermined. I am inviting the Psalters to come and play a show in support of their upcoming mission in November to Turkey to work closely with Kurdish refugees. I have also invited Josh Garrels and Sacred Intent. Any aid or support on this project is welcome. If you haven't already, get yourself a taste of these amazing musicians and brothers and sisters in Christ...

www.joshgarrels.com

www.psalters.com

www.sacredintent.com

Jason