What is it about a horn section that grabs our attention?
I was 12 years old when I first started playing trumpet and that was 25 years ago (easy to do the math there). I can remember the first time I heard the group Chicago on the radio. There was something about that ‘sound’ that I didn’t understand, but I KNEW I loved. I then remember hearing Blood, Sweat and Tears, Tower of Power, The Miami Sound Machine and Maynard Ferguson. Soon afterwards came the recordings of Glen Miller, Count Basie and Woody Herman. Harry Connick, Jr. came onto the scene and there was no turning back!!!
Back then, I didn’t understand what it was about those records that captured me. As I’ve gotten older, and had the opportunity to produce a lot of records myself, I understand better what it is...energy.
There is just something powerful about having a horn section play on top of a great rhythm section. When I played in TRUTH back in the 90’s, Roger Breland described the horn section as the ‘icing on the cake.’ I think he was right on with that description.
If your church is a contemporary church (just rhythm section and a couple of singers), try and add a horn section one day and see what sort of response you have from the congregation and the musicians. If you don’t have the players at your church (or don’t know if you do), bring in some professional players to see what sort of difference it makes in your worship services.
A couple of things will happen that have long term value:
1. There will be more energy and excitement in the service
2. You will be giving more people the opportunitiy to use their talents and gifts for God’s kingdom.
When you have the opportunity to enable more people to use the talents and gifts God has given them in ministry, I believe that will have eternal significance. The fact that adding those people also adds energy and excitement to your worship service just makes it an extra special blessing.
