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.
Friends,
Sherri, Jason, Amanda and I would like for you our friends to share in our joy as we welcome into our family my daughter Jessica. There is a huge God story attached to this announcement that we will in detail revel in the coming days.
No I didn’t have an affair. Jessica is from a relationship that I had before I meet Sherri. The “details” will follow as soon as possible all of us will be sharing something about our part in this remarkable event.
Please know I consider this to be one of the greatest experiences of my life. It is very deep, very spiritual, extremely personal and extremely wonderful. It has shown me much about myself, my family and God’s great care and love for His children.
We welcome Jessica, her husband LeRoy and their sons Matt, Seth, Aaron & Jacob in to our family. We are extremely excited and honored to have them be part of us.
Peace & Blessings,
Jimmie, Sherri, Jason & Amanda
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.
I’m five miles north of downtown Sturgis surrounded by pine trees and a killer view of the plains and Bear Butte and from here I can hear the rumble of thousands of motorcycles in the distance. It causes an energy of excitement in the air that is unmistakable. I’ve not been able to find another place like this one on the planet.
I am full of excitement as today we start our first day of concerts at The Legendary Buffalo Chip. I have a vision of what it will be like and I trust that it will be true. I know my band are some of the best players on earth and I know that the message in the music is powerful to heal and help. We load in at 1:00 and start playing at 5:00PM our second set tonight is from Midnight till 1:45 AM. I know there will be a “Party Going On” then for sure and we are going to be in the middle of it doing what we do…. More later.
Peace to y’all,
Jimmie
In less than a month we will be packed up and heading to Sturgis!!! We will be ministering/performing for six days and many of those days we will be doing three performances a day!
Words cannot describe how excited I am to be able to take the music and the message to the thousands of folks who will hear us, either at The Legendary Buffalo Chip or on Main Street. We are two thirds of the way to making our budget of $35,825.00 and by faith we believe for all to be meet. We have received gifts from some unexpected places and also some of the churches where I’ve ministered lately have given generously. We still need help to cover this our largest event in the history of our ministry.
If you would like to assist us click here to contribute or you can mail a check to,
Ransom Ministries, Inc.
PO Box 901495
Kansas City, MO 64190
We are also looking for an additional van to transport some of our crew. So if you have a road worthy van give me a call (816) 294-1113.
Peace & Blessings,
Jimmie
PS, here is a link to a video about the events click here….
Check this out The Rev on the bill with ZZ Top, Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Dave Mason & The Dobbie Brothers here is a link
Here is a tune for you, From the 2009 DVD Man! It’s Christmas LIVE & MORE The Rev & Band taking some time to jam on one of Jimmie most requested songs. With Lester Estelle on drums (Pillar), Tim Gonzalez on harmonica (Toby Keith, Ronnie Milsap), Craig Kew on bass (Proto Kaw), Daron Tappscott on fiddle (Joe Diffie) and The Rev on guitar.
Check it out…
That’s right NOW!!! I just signed the contract me and the band will be playing 5 days at the Legendary Buffalo Chip August 9-13, 2010 in Sturgis, SD for the 70th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally & Races. I was so excited we shot a video of me signing the contract check it out…..Jimmie
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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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June 8, 2009
UPDATE
I heard from Chaplin Herbie Harris some wonderful results of our recent event. Of the 819 residents at Ellsworth Correctional Center 811 attended our recent event!!! WOW!!! I have been doing prison ministry since the early ’80′s and this has to be the most remarkable event I have ever been part of really, really, really remarkable. So I just had to let you know. My story about the event is below…Jimmie
June 2, 2009
May 2009 Out of the Box Event – Ellsworth KS
Well it happened again!!! A choir of voices singing my songs back to me. The choir was made of 500+ inmates on the yard at The Ellsworth Correctional Center in Ellsworth, KS. I was so moved by the voices of the men singing back to me my words from their favorite songs of mine.
When we were there last Christmas they kept requesting songs of mine that I couldn’t remember the lyrics to, so I was determined not to let that happen again. While I was rehearsing it hit me just what these guys were singing. “Who I am is not at all, who I wanted to be come, where I am is not the place, I wanted to arrive, Change Me” the lyrics from “Change Me”. Do you thing they can relate or what?
I guess for me it was a wake up call to know just how effective one of my songs/sermons can be. It can get down inside a man’s heart and become the confession/prayer/mediation that gives him the desire to change, now that is powerful. I could go on with the stories of how many of these men are being touched by our message and music. Maybe sometime we can sit down and I’ll take a couple of hours to tell you story after story of the lives we see changed. It is so wonderful.
Peace,
Jimmie
