Cross Rhythms UK June 2011
Reviewed by Tim Holden
Blues has always been an intensely personal music that comes from the heart and this is no exception. Kansas City-based Jimmie’s conversion and subsequent ministry has provided much experience for him to write from and the passion comes through in the music. Starting with an almost country opener “It’s A New Day” with its upbeat celebration of conversion, the styles vary from the power ballad “God Screams” through to the harmonica-laden acoustic blues of “I’ll Be Me”. The production and arrangements are excellent and work just as well on the full on, full band tracks as they do with a pared back acoustic number. Do not be fooled into thinking blues means depressing either as this album will not fail to lift the spirits and is almost a master class in blues and blues-influenced music.
I have been working hard most of this year writing and recording a new CD titled “Exchange”. “Exchange” is my finest work to date. I know that’s a bold statement but I think it’s true and I want you to hear it as soon as possible.
So here is the deal. We are not quite done with the entire CD but we are half way there. So we have put half of the songs on a pre-release CD and for $20.00 we will send you the pre-release CD today then sometime before March 22, 2011 we will send you a signed copy of the new CD at no additional cost. Then you’ll have two CD’s the pre-release and the entire “Exchange” CD, so you can give one away or sell one on eBay? Here is a link where you can buy yours, click here
One of the songs featured on “Exchange” is “God Screams” which you can hear “God Screams” on my Facebook fan page click here then click on the “Band Profile” tab and give it a listen and let me know what you think. Oh if your not a fan on my Facebook fan page click on Like first.
We are attempting to reach millions with the message of the gospel that is woven into every song on Exchange and for sure the message from “God Screams”. In purchasing a pre-release you are helping us with our mission. Sure the music is great but that is not the goal. The goal is as many people as possible hearing the gospel and you can help us by ordering a pre-release or better yet several today. Thank you in advance….
Peace & Merry Christmas,
Jimmie
PS, I’ll be glad to sign the pre-release too. It will make a great gift and it’s a gift that will give twice. Once now and again before March 22.
Well it’s day Four and by the end of the day we will have done seven concerts both at the Chip and on Main Street and passed out hundreds of CD’s. I slept for a little more than 14 hours last night which is something that I never do but I needed the rest and for sure my voice was needing rest.
Like anything event in the biker community it has to grow. This is the 70th year of the Sturgis Rally and it is the biggest one that I have ever seen. Our performances here have been remarkable. Our first day at The Chip and the after party 12:00 AM till 1:45 was really something. The Main Street Stage has been really outstanding as people are so open to receive the music, message and the CD’s that we are giving away. On Sunday as we were just about to start a man came up to the stage and told me this story. He said that he was walking by the stage last year and someone gave him a CD. He said that he loved the music and one day when he was really feeling down he put the CD in and all of a sudden the track “As the Story Goes” (my story) started to play. He said he was inspired by the track and has been following Jesus ever since that day! Now that’s why we do what we do. We’ve had several more stories like this one come from people who have been given a CD. The seed is working.
So I am rested and ready to do two performances tonight and bless some folks with some Good News….
Peace to y’all,
Jimmie
PS, here are some video clips from the Monday After Party click here
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“THE REV” TO HEADLINE AT BLUES ON THE HILL
The Rev. Jimmie Bratcher To Perform at Popular Texas Blues Concert Series on August 15
“I’ve been spinning the Rev. Jimmie Bratcher on the radio for about a year now…what hooked me was the stingin’ full-bodied guitar riffs, his very souful voice and the songwriting elements that give a positive message about life in general,” comments Chris Maley, Program Manager at KMBH Radio and Entertainment Coordinator of the Blues on the Hill concert series. Pastor, evangelist, author, singer, songwriter and guitarist, “The Rev” preaches in churches every Sunday, but on Saturday nights you’ll find him sharing his amazing testimony and blistering guitar licks onstage in blues clubs and at music festivals, prisons and even biker rallies. Bratcher’s brand of the blues has been embraced by the Christian market and the mainstream blues industry alike, allowing him to play at both Christian music festivals such as Creation East, Creation West Coast and Rock the Light, and at blues festivals such as Simply the Blues Festival and Boxcar Full of Blues. He has appeared at venues along with Christian artists including Mercy Me, Newsboys and Third Day, and with blues greats including Grammy winner and NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award winner David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Blues Music Award winners Zac Harmon and Otis Taylor, and Livin’ Blues Gold Award winner Hubert Sumlin, one of Rolling Stone Magazine’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” According to Blues Revue Magazine, Bratcher’s upcoming release, The Electric Rev, “…erupts with a blast of righteously down-home funk. It’s as if Ray Charles has been reincarnated in the body of a character from a Woody Allen movie.” Produced by legendary Grammy Award-winning producer Jim Gaines (Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Journey) and Nashville’s Mike O’Neil, The Electric Rev showcases performances that are both intimate and raw. From the New Orleans street march of “Green Bananas” to the Sunday morning sound of “Pray for Me,” The Electric Rev speaks the language of the blues with a spirit that touches the heart and soul. The CD’s opening cut, “Call On Me,” urges those struggling in their lives and marriages to call on Jesus, letting them know that He is there with them through their darkest hour, all over a sweet gospel groove. “When the Blues Come” and “One Rock” express Bratcher’s love and respect for the blues, while the dobro-driven songs “Elijah’s Road” and “How Far Down” come straight from the soul of a man who knows just how far down the bottom is. Bratcher, who serves as the bandleader and frequent commentator for the new Sky Angel/TBN TV show “Love, Marriage and Stinking Thinking,” is driven by the desire to point as many people as possible to the reality of the love that God has for them. “The blues is my most effective way to communicate,” says Bratcher. Jimmie Bratcher’s The Electric Rev will be available on Ain’t Skeert Tunes on August 11, 2009. For more information on Jimmie Bratcher and his new album, The Electric Rev, visit www.jimmiebratcher.com. For more information, or to schedule an interview, contact:
High res DVD cover image and Word document available upon request. |
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 The Rev. Jimmie BratcherThe Electric Rev (Ain’t Skeert Tunes) |
Style:A soulful hybrid of blues, funk and gospel
Top tracks: “Elijah’s Road,” “Pray for Me”
In a nutshell: With a voice like Lyle Lovett and the guitar chops of B.B. King, Reverend Jimmie Bratcher preaches an unusually funky gospel on his latest album. But it is one that no less moving and inspiring than the most well-worn worship song. Bratcher, a regular on TBN’s Love, Marriage and Stinking Thinking, tries his hand at everything from impassioned dobro breakdowns (“Elijah’s Road”), a New Orleans-style shuffle (“Green Bananas”) and sax-driven funk on this fun and surprisingly powerful disc.
Gospel Music Week Notes
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
This is my first time to be at Gospel Music Week referred to as GMA here in Nashville. As you may know we have contract a public relations firm to assist us in getting our message out to the world. Here are some notes on what I have been doing.
Sunday evening, April 19 The McCain & CO 11th Guitar Pull
A guitar pull is a Nashville tradition which is basically singer songwriters sharing their songs. Nine artists including “The Rev.” played. The artist ranged from urban, to kids music, from John Schlitt former singer with Petra to Cowboy Dan who has a kids show on Daystar. Every one took a turn and they all loved “Green Bananas”.
Monday, April 20 Interviews,
This week is about art and press meeting together in the same place so that is why I am here. The interviews started this morning with One Mediator TV, a show from Ireland. Then WHIF 93.3 Radio from north Florida, then G Force Radio a show from London England, then a pre-interview with The 700 Club. A pre-interview is to determine if they want to do something with me on the show or not. Then with Fusemix.COM a popular on line web destination.
So that was about 5 hours of talking about myself??? Man it wiped me out. So now I am off to do it again today. Telling people about the Good News about why I am out telling it.
I’ll write more later….
Peace,
Jimmie
Check out this review from the February / March 2009 issue of Blues Revue Magazine
THE REV. JIMMIE BRATCHER
The Electric Rev.
Ain’t Skeert Tunes
The Rev. Jimmie Bratcher looks like someone you might find on an East Coast college campus an intellectual hipster who reads Kant while sipping white wine. It’s all the more startling, then, that “Call On Me,” the opening track of Bratcher’s fine new album, erupts with a blast of righteously down home funk. It’s as if Ray Charles has been reincarnated in the body of a character from a Woody Allen movie.
Bratcher is a study in contradictions. The Kansas City-based performer is an evangelical minister who splits his time between churches and bars. But listeners wary of folks who use religion as a political force can rest easy: Bratcher’s approach, at least on this outing, is universal enough to stand on its own in a multicultural world. This is due in large part to his strong sense of musicianship. Surrounding himself with a cadre of first-rate musicians, Bratcher builds each performance on intelligent and unexpected elements – the tuba, for instance, that rumbles beneath the opening track. Bratcher accompanies himself ably on guitar, and his voice is excellent: clear, soulful, and penetrating, with a built-in elasticity that lets him explore diverse musical forms without straining.
The Electric Rev Cover
“Green Bananas” is a fun New Orleans-styled shuffle, while “Pray for Me” captures the slow blues intensity of classic Percy Mayfield ballads. “One Rock” arrives with a spirited burst of pure gospel energy, balancing the darker mood of tracks such as “When the Blues Come.” Bratcher’s power diminishes when he embraces heavy rock balladry: The wry humor that makes much of the disc sparkle disappears on heavy-handed tracks such as “Cadillac” and “How Far Down.” This comes as a disappointing surprise, since Bratcher ventures into serious territory elsewhere without sounding leaden. Fortunately, spirits rise for the closing track, a funky cover of “Grits Ain’t Groceries.”
As Bratcher proves on The Electric Rev., blues and gospel aren’t merely acquaintances; they’re branches of the same family tree.
-David Freeland
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Blues Blast Magazine April 2009
The Reverend Jimmie Bratcher – The Electric Rev
Ain’t Skeert Tunes www.theelectricrev.com
The Rev. Jimmie Bratcher is an honest-to-gosh man of the cloth, along with being a pretty hot blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Based in Kansas City, MO, Bratcher brings, as one might expect, a strong gospel influence to his blues music and the songs contained on his latest CD release The Electric Rev., are entertaining and uplifting at the same time. Bratcher uses his music as part of his ministry to preach the word to both the churched and un-churched alike and takes his blues and his message everywhere and anywhere he is needed. He plays in venues ranging from blues clubs to churches to correctional institutions, bringing the Word with him. If his sermons are anything like his CD, Rev. Bratcher surely has a large and growing congregation, as he is one of the more unique and talented characters on the roots music scene today.
The Electric Rev Cover
When preaching time comes, Bratcher really turns it on, as evidenced on the CD’s opening cut “Call On Me”. The song calls those struggling in their lives and marriages to call on Jesus, letting them know that He is there with them through their darkest hour, all over a sweet gospel groove. Bratcher lays his soul bare on this and other cuts here and speaks directly to what is good in all of us, which is what makes his message understandable by all types of people, not just the already devout. Other highlights on the record include “Green Bananas”, “Pray For Me”, and “Cadillac”. Those looking for a different flavor in the music they love or for deeper lyrical content than the typical big-legged-woman-fuss-fight-boogie themes found in much of the blues may find what they seek as part of Bratcher’s flock.
Reviewer Mike O’Cull is a noted Chicago music writer and Blues Blast contributor. Visit his MySpace page at:
www.myspace.com/mikeocullmusic
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Well I’ve just finished my third fabulous weekend at Celebration Church in Green Bay, WI by preaching a red hot message. Man was it good, or at least I thought so. The message was titled How to Beat the Blues? So how do you beat the blues? Any way possible… here are three.
1. Sing the Right Song – praise changes everything. Gratitude will keep you healthy read the article “How Faith Can Heal” 2/23 Time Magazine
2. How To Beat the Blues – “Talk to Yourself” I know some of you do this already but do you do it right? Many people talk to themselves in a negative way STOP IT. Start building yourself up instead of tearing yourself down.
3. How To Beat the Blues – “Be Content, 1Tim. 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
Get started…. and beat those blue away….RIGHT NOW…
I did three concerts yesterday two in prison one last night a Cup O Joy in Green Bay, preached twice today and now I’m flying home to hang with Sherri, tomorrow is her birthday. Been gone since 2/13 either in Green Bay or Winnipeg doing TV needless to say I’m looking forward to being home.
Peace,
Jimmie
I received this story a couple of days ago, “Just wanted to let you know how much my wife and I enjoyed your concert last night! We heard about it from a co-worker and friend of mine that is a member of the church.” Somebody invited a friend to a concert and they were ministered to. That’s how it works, the kingdom at its essence is a relationship. Someone tells the story, someone hears it and miracles happen.
We are so thankful for your help, without it we would not be able to do all that we do. We are always pressing on and I wanted to share what is about to happen and ask for your help if you’re able.
We have in front of us a huge opportunity. This opportunity will allow more people to hear our story than ever before and what that means is more people will hear the gospel and know Jesus, why? Because they will know who I am and hear our story. But I need a whole lot of help to make this happen.
So, we are hiring a professional storyteller to help us, Lynn McCain president of McCain & Associates a Nashville based public relations firm whose forte is telling stories. She has done it for many years and is considered by many to be one of the best storytellers in the music industry. This is a huge step of faith for us but after prayer, Sherri and I both feel it is the right time for us to take this step. But we need your help.
The campaign will start February 2nd and run for six months. The monthly cost of the campaign will be $3,000.00 per month. OUCH, I know it is a lot of money but how much is one family worth, one couple that hears our story and their marriage is restored, one life that is saved?
Here is a link to our on-line contribution form. If you would like your contribution set up on a monthly debit system please email my assistant Amanda jatrux AT gmail.com. Look it over, pray, give and help tell the story.
For the harvest,
Jimmie
