What if one concert could bring together people who love classic hymns, contemporary Christian music, love country music by artists like Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Brooks & Dunn & Jelly Roll, those who love Southern Gospel and traditional Black Gospel, along with those who grew up listening to the Eagles, the Beatles, James Taylor, STYX and classic rock?
There’s one that can.
It’s an Amazing! Rhythm Disciples (ARD) concert.
The Disciples’ mantra is “Familiar Music. Timeless Message.” They like to describe their concerts as seven very accomplished musicians with very diverse backgrounds coming together to make “A VERY Joyful Noise!”
ARD was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in the fall of 2024, when seven musicians who also happened to be friends came together to play music, have fun and praise God—and ended up forming a unique music ministry.
“It all came together very quickly and very organically,” said bassist Keith “Don’t call Me Shirley” Shirley. “We were just jamming around and having fun. We would play a Southern Gospel song, then a contemporary Christian song, then a country song, then a classic rock song. Sometimes we would almost accidentally mash them together, look at each other and say, ‘Hey, that works!’”
Shirley gives credit where he believes it belongs.
“We knew the good Lord had His hand in this from the get-go,” he said. “The blending of the various musical styles—or ‘mashups,’ as we call them—came together so naturally and so quickly that we knew God was doing something.”
Don’t let all the joking fool you. There is an extraordinary amount of musical experience on an ARD stage.
Among the Disciples are four members of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, current and former church music directors and ministers, and musicians holding at least five music degrees, including a doctorate. Violinist Andrei Kurti studied at the Moscow Conservatory and has performed at Carnegie Hall and in concert halls throughout Europe.
Altogether, the group stopped counting after passing 300 years of combined musical performance experience.
But ARD is difficult to put into a musical box.
“I don’t think you can pigeonhole us as a Gospel group or even simply a Christian music group,” said vocalist Julia Brown. “What we see happening over and over at our concerts is that folks who don’t normally listen to Christian music hear us play a classic rock song or even a current country song reinterpreted through the lens of faith, and they think, ‘Hey, I know that song!’ Before they know it, they’re hearing a contemporary Christian song or a Southern Gospel song and finding that they like it, in spite of themselves.”
“Familiar music is the bridge, and Jesus is where the bridge leads.”
The Amazing! Rhythm Disciples have performed at churches of various denominations, non-denominational churches, festivals and other events. Along the way, they have watched people of different generations, races, backgrounds and faith traditions come together to laugh, cry , praise and sing along while hearing a message centered unmistakably on Jesus Christ.
“We take music people know, along with humor and fun, and use it to open the door,” said one of the Disciples. “Then we walk through that door with them. And no one receives a bigger blessing than us.”
That connection is at the heart of an ARD concert.
“We’re constantly striving to connect with someone in the audience and convey the message that no matter what problems you’re having in your life, you don’t have to face them alone. There’s strength and hope in Jesus. If we reach one person, it’s all been worth it.”
After a recent Disciples concert at a church, an elderly lady approached the group with just one word to describe what she had experienced:
“Joyous.”
The band couldn’t have asked for a better description.
ARD believes sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ doesn’t have to be somber. There can be laughter. There can be great music. There can be familiar songs, unexpected arrangements, stories, memories and plenty of fun.
And there can be joy.
That’s why the Amazing! Rhythm Disciples plan to keep doing exactly what they set out to do:
Making a VERY Joyful Noise!
THE AMAZING! RHYTHM DISCIPLES
Familiar Music. Timeless Message.
Making a VERY Joyful Noise!
For appearances and hosting information:
www.amazingrhythmdisciples.com
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