The Jazz Church

Upon noticing a connection between the spirituality of the church and of jazz improvisation, a Lutheran pastor named Juan Garcia Gensel held the first jazz Vespers in New York in 1965. Gensel fell in love with jazz after hearing Duke Ellington perform, and was inspired to focus his work on the lives and problems of the community of jazz musicians.

Although Gensel is retired, his parish continues to champion the music's spiritual qualities at St Peter’s Lutheran Church. Also known as the “Jazz Church,” it is located at 619 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. It has housed the memorial services of Ellington, John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins, Thelonious Monk, and countless other jazz legends. The church’s Steinway piano was donated by Billy Strayhorn. Currently there is a jazz performance every week, coordinated by music director, bassist, and composer Ike Sturm.

Soon after joining the church, Sturm was commissioned to write a jazz mass, which he has performed numerous times, and is currently in the process of recording. He hopes for a late 2008 release of the CD, which will feature a jazz ensemble in addition to a choir and strings. When I heard the mass performed at the church a couple of months ago, the ensemble included all-star musicians Ingrid Jensen, Donny McCaslin, and Ted Poor. The Vespers services have featured musicians such as Jon Hendricks, Brian Blade, Josh Redman, Charlie Haden, Jack DeJohnette, and many others.

Catch a jazz service every Sunday at 5 pm. Everyone is welcome, whether you are there to worship or just to check out some of New York’s top jazz musicians.

Photo courtesy of Madeline Sturm