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The Making of Why We Celebrate Christmas
Andre Brinson Shares His Journey
Article by Dianna Hobbs
Andre Brinson Shares His Journey
Article by Dianna Hobbs
Anybody who knows Andre Brinson knows
he's one of the most gifted, anointed and
humble musicians of our generation.
But what they might not know is that at one
point, this Minister of Music of the 5,000
member Mt. Zion Baptist Church of
Greensboro, NC under the leadership of
Bishop George W. Brooks, wrestled with
anxiety about sharing his musical creativity
with others.
he's one of the most gifted, anointed and
humble musicians of our generation.
But what they might not know is that at one
point, this Minister of Music of the 5,000
member Mt. Zion Baptist Church of
Greensboro, NC under the leadership of
Bishop George W. Brooks, wrestled with
anxiety about sharing his musical creativity
with others.
“I was actually about to give up.
I was about to walk out..."
He wasn't sure he wanted to pursue a formal career in
music production, an uncertainty that crept in after one
of his very first studio sessions.
Imagine it. Andre was a newbie on the rise—albeit a very
talented one, who was granted the opportunity to
collaborate with popular sought after producer, Cedric
Thompson. But when time came for Andre to play the
organ during the very structured and rigid recording
session, after initially fumbling and struggling through
musical takes, he choked.
“It got so challenging,” Andre recalls of his first major
studio collaboration. “It was different to have to play the
way somebody else wanted me to play. I had a hard time
interpreting music that way since I had never done it
before.”
Thankfully, Thompson and the crew of supportive
musicians intervened. “I was actually about to give up. I
was about to walk out and they encouraged me not to
give up. They wouldn't let me quit. After that experience,
I realized I could do it. I learned to relax and be
confident.”
From that session came Christopher Brinson's 2002
stellar album release, A Better Way, known for the smash
hit, “Got Just What I Wanted”.
Today, Andre is a far cry from the sheepish, slightly
repressed musician afraid to showcase his God-given
abilities to the world. His debut Christmas instrumental
album, Why We Celebrate Christmas, is generating major
support and lots of buzz.
When questioned about why he chose this time and
season to produce his very first CD, Andre had this to
say: “It dropped in my spirit; I had been contemplating it
for a while, you know, but this time there was an urgency
that was there and I knew that it was the right time to do
it.
I was about to walk out..."
He wasn't sure he wanted to pursue a formal career in
music production, an uncertainty that crept in after one
of his very first studio sessions.
Imagine it. Andre was a newbie on the rise—albeit a very
talented one, who was granted the opportunity to
collaborate with popular sought after producer, Cedric
Thompson. But when time came for Andre to play the
organ during the very structured and rigid recording
session, after initially fumbling and struggling through
musical takes, he choked.
“It got so challenging,” Andre recalls of his first major
studio collaboration. “It was different to have to play the
way somebody else wanted me to play. I had a hard time
interpreting music that way since I had never done it
before.”
Thankfully, Thompson and the crew of supportive
musicians intervened. “I was actually about to give up. I
was about to walk out and they encouraged me not to
give up. They wouldn't let me quit. After that experience,
I realized I could do it. I learned to relax and be
confident.”
From that session came Christopher Brinson's 2002
stellar album release, A Better Way, known for the smash
hit, “Got Just What I Wanted”.
Today, Andre is a far cry from the sheepish, slightly
repressed musician afraid to showcase his God-given
abilities to the world. His debut Christmas instrumental
album, Why We Celebrate Christmas, is generating major
support and lots of buzz.
When questioned about why he chose this time and
season to produce his very first CD, Andre had this to
say: “It dropped in my spirit; I had been contemplating it
for a while, you know, but this time there was an urgency
that was there and I knew that it was the right time to do
it.
“I didn't have a long time frame so it was a lot of intense
work because it had to happen quickly. So there were
some sleepless nights and long hours.”
As Andre spent those grueling nights putting together
beautiful compositions with the traditional holiday
sounds listeners will enjoy, mixed with a touch of
originality and flair, his goal was to reveal his true
musical style. “I really wanted people to get to know me
[through the music], nothing fancy. I just wanted to be
myself and give people something to listen to; good music
so they can meditate, relax, and enjoy.”
Andre's unique style is laid back, but yet makes a bold
statement, even without the addition of vocals. The
simple and straightforward melodies, interspersed with
complex chord structures and well-placed riffs and runs,
offer the listener plenty of delightful and soothing
sounds.
Though this is Andre's first album, it certainly won't be
his last. He already has an eye turned toward the future,
with a worship instrumental CD in the making for release
some time in 2009. But for now, Andre wants listeners to
pop in his latest musical rendering and bask in all the
beauty of this holiday season. “I want those who buy the
CD to meditate on how blessed they are to know the true
reason why we Celebrate Christmas—Jesus Christ.”
Article and interview by Dianna Hobbs, Founder and Editor-In-
Chief of EEW Magazine.
Listen to snippets of the album here.
Purchase your copy of the album here.
work because it had to happen quickly. So there were
some sleepless nights and long hours.”
As Andre spent those grueling nights putting together
beautiful compositions with the traditional holiday
sounds listeners will enjoy, mixed with a touch of
originality and flair, his goal was to reveal his true
musical style. “I really wanted people to get to know me
[through the music], nothing fancy. I just wanted to be
myself and give people something to listen to; good music
so they can meditate, relax, and enjoy.”
Andre's unique style is laid back, but yet makes a bold
statement, even without the addition of vocals. The
simple and straightforward melodies, interspersed with
complex chord structures and well-placed riffs and runs,
offer the listener plenty of delightful and soothing
sounds.
Though this is Andre's first album, it certainly won't be
his last. He already has an eye turned toward the future,
with a worship instrumental CD in the making for release
some time in 2009. But for now, Andre wants listeners to
pop in his latest musical rendering and bask in all the
beauty of this holiday season. “I want those who buy the
CD to meditate on how blessed they are to know the true
reason why we Celebrate Christmas—Jesus Christ.”
Article and interview by Dianna Hobbs, Founder and Editor-In-
Chief of EEW Magazine.
Listen to snippets of the album here.
Purchase your copy of the album here.
I just believe this is the season—whatever we
do, we need to do it before the New Year
begins because that's when God is going to
open up the doors and really pour out his
blessings on us—his sons and daughters. So,
that's why I wanted to do this.”
Remarkably, Andre recorded this Christmas
CD featuring classic favorites like: Silent
Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and Joy
to the World, in only a few short weeks.
do, we need to do it before the New Year
begins because that's when God is going to
open up the doors and really pour out his
blessings on us—his sons and daughters. So,
that's why I wanted to do this.”
Remarkably, Andre recorded this Christmas
CD featuring classic favorites like: Silent
Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and Joy
to the World, in only a few short weeks.
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