By David Gill, reprinted from The 313.
I have read and reviewed hundreds of books relating faith (theology, ethics and values, spirituality) to work over the past fifty years. But I have rarely read anything as insightful and even exhilarating as William Carter’s Thriving on a Riff: Jazz and the Spiritual Life. Once I started, I could hardly put it down. Every paragraph, if not every sentence, spoke to me, moved me, and filled me with joy. I recommend this book to all workplace disciples, even those unfamiliar with or unmoved by jazz. But I suspect Thriving on a Riff may truly transport only those believers who already love jazz.
William Carter is the long-time pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania (lucky congregation!). His deep understanding of Scripture as well as Christian discipleship comes through on every page. This man knows and loves God, the Word, and the people. But Carter is also a long-time jazz pianist, especially in his “Presbybop Quartet.” Go to the Presbybop website to listen for yourself. Bill is also the editor of the hymnal Swing a New Song to the Lord: Jazz Resources for Worship.
Thriving on a Riff has fourteen chapters on various aspects of jazz—composing it, performing it, listening to it, feeling it, and explaining it. Rhythm, harmony, dissonance and resolution, solo and ensemble play, celebration, exaltation, and praise, improvisation, blues, mourning, waiting and healing, feeling and sensing nature, our humanity, and the reality of God—Carter guides us on an incredible musical and spiritual journey. If you love jazz, you will be saying “that’s it, that’s what spoke to me, that’s what I heard and felt.” “That’s what lifted my heart in praise to God.”
As I said, Carter knows the music, the Word, the Lord, and our worship. His narrative is packed with stories of jazz greats and unknowns: Coltrane, Bird, Davis, Beiderbecke, Brubeck, Armstrong, Lady Day, Jarett, Handy, McFerrin, Mingus, Mary Lou Williams, among others. He grapples with sacred and secular, broken lives, redemptive relationships with band-mates and audiences, financial struggles and success. He has great insights and suggestions for worship and liturgy. Every chapter is accompanied by an original poem of great power. Scripture and Spirit come alive in the integration of faith and jazz. A masterpiece!
The Green Room 