Church offers jazz as spiritual tool
Jazz music typically is associated with big-city clubs filled with crowds of people sipping cocktails.
But Peace Lutheran Church in Danville is using jazz to inspire people spiritually.
The Danville church recently began the second year of its Jazz at Peace series, which invites musicians and audience members to spend "an hour of spiritual reflection and rejoicing."
The roots of Jazz at Peace go back to 1961 in Manhattan with the Jazz Vespers program.
"It's intentionally a worship gathering, but it's very open and free," said the Rev. Steve Harms, pastor of Peace Lutheran.
Harms, an amateur jazz pianist, considers Jazz at Peace an interfaith service that spans religions.
Most of the songs played don't necessarily have any religious connection.
"Atheist folk are coming and loving it because there's no agenda," he said.
The musicians are from all over, but most have Bay Area ties. All are professional or semiprofessional musicians, including one who used to play with Charlie "Bird" Parker.
"They are so appreciative to be heard," Harms said. "Here, the music is the focus. There's a rapport and intensity that you just don't get in the clubs."
When the series began last year, it drew about 60 to 70 people a session. Now typical audiences number 150 to 200 people.
Harms usually says a few words during the sessions, which occasionally have a theme. But the emphasis is on letting the musicians express themselves.
"It's the best of spiritual experiences because the immediacy and the spontaneity of jazz moves one into the present moment," Harms said.
Mary D'Orazi, program manager of the Oakland Jazz Choir, which is performing this weekend, said the singers are looking forward to the performance, their first at Peace Lutheran.
"I think jazz is a very spiritual form of music," D'Orazi said. "It's a lot of improvisation. It's something that's coming through them in the moment, which to me is a really spiritual kind of thing."
Jazz at Peace will be held at 5 p.m. the second Sunday of each month through June. It is free and open to the public.
This Sunday's performance will coincide with the church's Taste of the Valley fundraiser, which will include food and wine tasting, art and dancing. The fundraiser begins at 2 p.m. and costs $50. There is no entrance fee for those attending only Jazz at Peace.
For details, including a list of performers, go to
www.peacejourney.org or call 925-648-7000. Peace Lutheran Church is at 3201 Camino Tassajara, Danville, CA
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