About this Event
Welcome to Jesus and Jazz featuring Richard Baratta, Tomoko Ohno, Michael Goetz, and Patrick Gannon! Join us at Mt Zion Ame Church on September 28, 2025 at 11:30 AM (Eastern Time) for an amazing musical experience. Get ready to be uplifted by soulful tunes and inspiring melodies in a beautiful setting. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy great music and good company. See you there!
2025 October Jesus and JazzJohn Lee bassist and Grammy-winning Record Producer
His artistry bridges the sacred and the soulful. With a career spanning over five decades, Lee has played alongside jazz giants like Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, and Aretha Franklin—bringing a deep, resonant groove to stages around the world.
As a producer and engineer, he’s shaped more than 160 recordings, earning a Grammy for his sonic excellence and spiritual sensitivity. His work as musical director of the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars and Afro-Latin Experience continues to uplift audiences with music that transcends borders and speaks to the soul.
John Lee’s basslines have echoed through some of the world’s most iconic venues and festivals, including:The Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall (New York City), The Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands), Blue Note Tokyo (Japan), The Barbican Centre (London), Cape Town International Jazz Festival (South Africa), Havana International Jazz Festival (Cuba) and so many more. From sacred sanctuaries to global stages, John Lee’s performances are a testament to music’s power to unite, uplift, and inspire.
For “Jesus and Jazz,” John Lee is a PK and brings not only his bass but his belief—that music is ministry, and every note is a prayer. His presence is a testament to the power of rhythm, reverence, and legacy.
Winard Harper – Rhythmic Messenger of Joy and Jazz
Winard Harper is a master drummer, bandleader, and jazz ambassador whose rhythms speak of spirit, soul, and swing. Born in Baltimore in 1962, Harper’s musical journey began as a child prodigy, inspired by the legendary sounds of Max Roach and Clifford Brown. By age five, he was sitting in with his brother’s band; by his twenties, he was touring with jazz icons like Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, and Betty Carter.
As co-founder of The Harper Brothers, Winard helped define the sound of jazz in the late ’80s and early ’90s, blending tradition with youthful fire. His own ensembles—including the celebrated sextet and the Jeli Posse—have graced stages from Lincoln Center to Yoshi’s, the Kennedy Center to international festivals, always delivering music that uplifts and electrifies.
Community Builder at Moore’s Lounge For over a decade, Winard has been the heartbeat behind the legendary Sunday jazz jams at Moore’s Lounge in Jersey City. These weekly gatherings have become a sacred space for seasoned pros and rising stars alike—a living laboratory of swing, mentorship, and musical communion. Under Harper’s guidance, Moore’s has blossomed into one of New Jersey’s most vital jazz incubators.
Winard’s drumming is more than technique—it’s testimony. For “Jesus and Jazz,” he brings a heartbeat of faith, a pulse of praise, and a groove that glorifies. His presence is a celebration of jazz as a joyful ministry.
Phil Bingham – Pianist, Conductor, Vessel of Sacred Sound
Phil Bingham is a celebrated pianist, conductor, and music education consultant whose artistry bridges gospel, jazz, and classical traditions with grace and power. Known for his soulful touch and spiritual sensitivity, Bingham has spent decades crafting music that uplifts, educates, and inspires.
A longtime contributor to the New Jersey arts scene, Phil has performed at iconic venues including the Count Basie Center for the Arts, where he was honored to play during the dedication of the William and Catherine Basie Arts Plaza on what would have been Basie’s 119th birthday. His presence at such historic moments reflects a career rooted in reverence—for the music, the message, and the community.
Phil Bingham is also a guiding force behind Jesus and Jazz, serving as bandleader and pianist for many editions of the series. His arrangements and performances transform the sanctuary into a space of praise and improvisation, where every chord is a call to worship and every solo a sermon in sound.
Whether mentoring young musicians, conducting choirs, or leading spirit-filled ensembles, Phil Bingham’s legacy is one of devotion, excellence, and joy.
Alex Desrivieres – AlleyCatSax, Sonic Explorer of Spirit and Swing
Alex Desrivieres, known on stage as AlleyCatSax, is a dynamic saxophonist, bandleader, and educator whose sound fuses jazz tradition with soulful innovation. With a degree in Music Performance and a passion for pedagogy, Alex has built a career that spans cruise ships, concert halls, classrooms, and community stages.
He has toured internationally as a showband musician with Norwegian Cruise Lines, performed in musicals and amusement parks, and recorded with artists across genres—from jazz and gospel to funk and fusion. As the leader of the Harmonic Convergence Band, Alex brings a fresh, expressive energy to every performance, captivating audiences with his rich tone, lyrical phrasing, and fearless improvisation.
Alex is a fixture in the New Jersey music scene, regularly performing at venues like The Fox & Falcon, Maplewood Arts Center, and community festivals curated by Gregory Burrus Productions. His performances at Black History Month celebrations, jazz brunches, and cultural showcases reflect a deep commitment to using music as a tool for connection, education, and joy.
As a dedicated music educator, Alex teaches saxophone, flute, and clarinet to students of all ages, nurturing the next generation of artists with patience, precision, and passion.
For Jesus and Jazz, AlleyCatSax brings more than just notes—he brings testimony. His horn becomes a vessel of praise, his solos a sermon in soun
Laverne S. Williams – Mental Health Advocate, Faith-Based Healer, Trailblazer of Emotional Wellness
Laverne S. Williams is a pioneering mental health professional, ordained deacon, and nationally recognized speaker whose work bridges emotional wellness and spiritual empowerment. With over 38 years of service to the Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ), Laverne has dedicated her life to breaking stigma, building community, and healing hearts—especially within Black faith communities.
As the founding director of the PEWS Program (Promoting Emotional Wellness and Spirituality), launched in 2005, Laverne has equipped hundreds of church leaders with tools to recognize and respond to mental health challenges in their congregations. Her visionary leadership has transformed how churches approach emotional health, creating safe spaces for honest dialogue, support, and restoration.
Driven by her deep faith and unwavering compassion, Laverne has become a trusted voice in both clinical and spiritual circles. Her presentations blend lived experience, professional insight, and biblical wisdom—making her a powerful presence at Jesus and Jazz, where music, mental health and ministry meet.
Laverne Williams speaks not only to the mind, but to the soul—reminding us that healing is holy, and wellness is worship.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Mt Zion Ame Church, 54 Church Street, Millburn, United States
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