The Jazz String Quintet is led by tenor saxophonist Jim Gailloreto. One of the leading musicians and composers on the Chicago jazz scene, Gailloreto has displayed his virtuosity and grasp of various styles in performances with Kurt Elling, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and numerous other groups. Gailloreto is joined by the H.A.W.K. String Quartet for this project, which features his compositions and arrangements of jazz standards for string quartet and soprano saxophone.

Although artists have experimented with strings within a jazz context since the days of the Paul Whiteman Orchestra in the 1920s, most string projects have been met with unease among jazz critics and audiences. However, Gailloreto’s writing is a fine example of balancing the string quartet’s capabilities with the element of improvisation using jazz harmonies.

Recently, with funding from Chamber Music America’s New Works grant, Gailloreto wrote a four movement piece entitled “American Complex,” which the JSQ performed in Chicago’s Green Mill jazz club, and at Bargemusic in New York City. On July 24th, the group will be performing Gailloreto’s arrangements of Bossa Nova tunes with Brazilian guitarist and singer Paulinho Garcia in Chicago’s Millenium Park.

Photo courtesy of Tanya Tucka

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