A San Diego priest is placing a jazz spin on trendy worship — mixing conventional prayer with improvisation inside a 132-year-old Carlsbad chapel.
Father Doran Stambaugh calls the service “Jazz Evensong” — half prayer, half efficiency, and “all intention.”
Inside St. Michael’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, scripture and reflection are paired with dwell jazz as musicians improvise and reply to at least one one other all through the service.
“I really feel like jazz as an artwork type itself is religious,” Father Stambaugh advised FOX 5. “And to carry it contained in the context of the liturgy in a means, it simply kind of embraces and captures what’s already inherent within the music.”
For bassist Gunnar Biggs — who has carried out for many years with jazz icons together with saxophonist Charles McPherson and pianist Mose Allison — performing within the sacred setting of his hometown carries particular that means.
“It’s a peaceable feeling,” Biggs mentioned. “No matter we do right here is for a very good motive. It’s with function. It’s trustworthy. So, it simply makes me really feel good.”
Parishioners mentioned the music leaves an enduring affect past what they hear in the course of the service.
“It simply touches my soul,” longtime parishioner Sandy Anderson mentioned. “Their coronary heart is of their music, and it comes by way of to all people. Toes are tapping. They’re nodding their heads and I believe that half is particular. The feedback that folks say once they come out are simply saying this was past what they ever anticipated.”
Father Stambaugh mentioned his love of music dates again to his youthful years in Illinois, the place he performed guitar in a number of bands earlier than songwriting and deeper questions on life ultimately led him to seminary in Wisconsin.
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The Midwest native created the Jazz Evensong sequence six years in the past in the course of the COVID pandemic, describing it as a present to his congregation.
“I really didn’t suppose too onerous about this system. Sort of put it collectively like chocolate and peanut butter,” Father Stambaugh mentioned. “These guys are like Olympians of their instrument. It’s a rare stage of musicianship.”
The priest additionally joked that jazz will be the soundtrack to the afterlife.
“I’ve it on good authority that the one music that shall be taking part in in heaven is jazz,” Father Stambaugh mentioned. “So, inform your folks, inform your neighbors, inform your enemies, that they’ll put together for eternity each Sunday at St. Michael’s Jazz Evensong.”
Father Stambaugh additionally hosts a weekly podcast known as “Jazz Legends,” the place he and the quintet talk about upcoming artists and music featured in the course of the service.
He’s at present planning an annual jazz pageant this fall that includes New Orleans brass band music.
