John Becker Biography
Time Stands Still, the title of John Becker’s latest CD, celebrates the time-suspending joy and awe of having a new baby. The music echoes the delight of becoming parents after the turmoil and grief of infertility. The recording speaks of the Source of our eternal hope with honest beauty. Musicians include Laurie Lang on bass and vocals, Marilyn Fisher, Sally de Broux and Harlan Becker on vocals; John Becker on piano, vocals, drum set, percussion, vibraphone, synthesizer, accordion and melodica]
John lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with his wife, Barb, and sons, Adam (April, 2002) and Paul (June, 2004). He graduated from the UW-Madison school of music and obtained a masters in music performance at California State University'"Northridge. He teaches general music at Sauk Trail Elementary School in Middleton. He has performed with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra at the “Concerts on the Square,”, with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, has played for the Isthmus Jazz Festival and the “Jazz at 5 concert series.” He was a percussion instructor at UW-Whitewater from 1992-1997. He has also conducted adult and children’s choirs at Madison’s Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel and at St. Andrew’s Church in Middleton, where he and his family are members.
Are You in a Band? is John’s debut CD, produced in 2001 (11 tracks, 53:11 playing time). John is the only one on this recording delightfully overdubbing himself, hence the title. On it he pays tribute to jazz legend Bill Evans, performs one of Madison’s musicians, Jeff Eckels’ tunes, November Still, honors his wife with My Favorite Place, harmonizes with himself on Amazing Grace and finishes with his version of Wayne Watson’s Come home. The ballads are a heartfelt and warm amalgamation of John’s faith core and his love for jazz harmonies.
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