The Psalms and Jazz
‘There’s only freedom in structure, my man. There’s no freedom in freedom.’ (Branford Marsalis)
One of my ‘bucket list’ items for ‘retirement’ has been to learn jazz keyboard. It has been a delight to be tutored by a master jazz pianist here on the Central Coast, Marshall Otwell. Piano practice has become a part of my daily routine. And I can see real improvement!
One of the wonders of jazz is the synergy between order and freedom. Jazz is grounded in repeated patterns and structures of notes, intervals, keys, scales, chord progressions, rhythmic patterns, and melodic themes. Improvisation (making music ‘in the moment’) is built upon these structures.
There is a beautiful synergy between order and freedom in jazz. The more I have practiced my scales, progressions and rhythms, the greater freedom I have to improvise. The less I practice, the smaller is my ‘toolbox’ for creating music in the moment (i.e. improvising). The less I practice, the more imprisoned I am to ‘pat’ overused melodic patterns. Structure provides freedom.
Jazz is very much like Christian spirituality. Order and freedom are intimately knit together in the journey of faith. For thousands of years, the people of God have engaged in regular, repeated spiritual habits (for example, morning and evening prayer, listening to God in Scripture, weekly Sabbath rest, and congregational worship). I pray this website is equipping you with tools for praying God’s Word into the fabric of your daily life. Like the practice of jazz scales and chord progressions, these intentional daily and weekly practices form the order and structure for a flourishing Christian life. They are designed not as limiting constraints on your spiritual life. Rightly practiced, they provide a foundation for a new freedom- the freedom to pay attention to God ‘in the moment’ of the highs and lows of everyday life, to ‘abide’ in Christ in the middle of the messiness of your day.
The ancient Christian church has had a word for this ‘structured freedom’ of Christian spirituality- a rule of life (Latin: ‘regula vitae’). A ‘regula’ was not seen as an end in itself. It provides a structure (a ‘trellis’) upon which to grow a living, flourishing life of faithfulness.
An illustration from my life: As a 2024 New Year’s intention, I have adopted a ‘trellis’ for praying the psalms more thoroughly into my life, built on the structure Jesus gave us in the Lord’s Prayer (see blog post below for details).
Sundays- I begin the week celebrating the Father’s PRAISE (“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name”). On Sundays I focus on a related psalm or orientation (a psalm of ‘praise’). For me, this Sunday was Psalm 103.
Mondays- Theme: Father’s PURPOSE (“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”). On Mondays I focus on a related psalm or orientation (a psalm of ‘enthronement’). For me, this Monday was Psalm 29.
Tuesdays- Theme: the Father’s PROVISION (“Give us today our daily bread”). On Tuesdays I focus on a related psalm of orientation (a psalm of ‘creation’). This Tuesday was Psalm 65.
Wednesdays- Theme: the Father’s PARDON (“And forgive us our sins, as we also have forgiven those who sin against us”). On Wednesdays I focus on a related psalm of lament (a psalm of ‘confession’). Today I chose Psalm 15.
Thursdays- Theme: the Father’s PROTECTION (“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”). On Thursdays I focus on a related psalm of lament (a ‘help’ psalm).
Fridays- I conclude the week with the theme: the Father’s PROMISE (“For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen”). On Friday I focus on a related psalm of reorientation (a psalm of ‘thanksgiving’ or ‘trust’).
Saturdays- A day to reflect on the week and catch up.
So far, two weeks into this ‘trellis,’ I have seen a significant difference in my heart and mind-set. I find myself increasingly more aware of God’s presence and perspective in the middle of the messy and joyful stuff of my days.
The structure is enhancing my freedom to respond to God ‘in the moment.’
What is your ‘trellis’?
