Dear People of St. James’,
Back in 1964 the late great Mary Lou Williams talked the then bishop of Pittsburgh into sponsoring the city’s first Jazz Festival. It would include local artists Art Blakey and Williams as well as all stars like Thelonious Monk and Ben Webster. Two of Mary Lou’s sacred music compositions, “St. Martin de Porres” and “Praise the Lord”, became important parts of that festival.
The following year Bishop Wright would “turn around” to commission Ms. Williams to compose three jazz masses for the diocese. A decade later an emboldened Williams would tell the New York Post, “Americans don’t know how important jazz is … it’s healing for the soul … (and) should be played in churches and night clubs … to use it every place we can.”
In 1996, St. James’ Episcopal Church here in Austin responded to that clarion call from this visionary composer and performer. Due in no small measure to the dedication of a number of folks, including the Rev. Bill Miller, here with us this weekend, as well as A.D. Mannion and Lonnie Jackson, St. James’ has managed to repeat this annual jazz festival for a full quarter century.
St. James’, like jazz, finds its roots in the African American struggle. Yet like this nation’s unique art form, this church has also opened itself up to all people seeking to transform their struggle into joy. Where better to express such metonoia — the New Testament Greek word for “turning around” — than in this sanctuary? If ever there was a time when we as a nation needed a sense of “turning around” it is now. We’re, therefore, thrilled you are here with us to bathe in the metanoic power of the divine voice flowing through a passel of masterful jazz musicians.
For the first time, in honor of our 25th Anniversary, we’ve secured two headlining artists. From Atlanta, Las Angeles, and Arizona, we welcome Carmen Bradford, Tom Scott and Hope Morgan. From the heart of Austin, we welcome Drs. James Polk and John Mills, as well as rising songstress, Margo Zelle, and a bounty of other gifted jazz artists. We’ve also brought back our Jazz Angel Banquet to serve up a veritable feast. If you leave this weekend without metanoia in your soul and belly, we respectfully suggest you have your ears and palate checked.
We want to thank our donors, sponsors and the small army of committee members and volunteers, without which we’d never manage to offer such a celebration of music and communion. We want to particularly thank Louis and Marci Henna who have once again lent their generous support. Lastly, in the words of the Duke Ellington standard, Come Sunday, join us for our culminating Jazz Mass. Carmen Bradford, Tom Scott’s LA Express, John Mills’ Orchestra, our own Joe Morales and St. James’ Choir, combined with the hell-raising preaching of the Rev. Bill Miller, are going to blow the roof off this place. Come prepared, therefore, to meet the Holy Spirit face to face.
— Joe Morales & Terry Dawson
