Saint Peter’s Church Celebrates Annual Jazz Festival, All Nite Soul

NEW YORK — On Sunday night, the sanctuary at Saint Peter’s Church in midtown transformed into a swingin’ jazz club for its annual All Nite Soul festival. The concert benefited West Harlem Environmental Action, or WeAct, a community-based organization dedicated to environmental awareness and protection for minorities in low income areas.

The event marked the 46th anniversary of the festival, making it New York City’s longest continuously-running all night jazz festival. It featured a collection of world-renowned jazz musicians, including Grammy-nominated singer, Kate McGarry, Grammy award winning saxophonist, Lauren Sevian and legendary drummer, Billy Hart.

The festival, first held in 1970, was started by Pastor John Garcia Gensel.

Gensel, according to Mike Forfia, a programming and media assistant at Saint Peter’s, played a pivotal part in developing an early relationship between local musicians and the church.

“He would go out to clubs and find [musicians] and give them money for what they needed. They would, in turn, try and return the favor by coming out to the Sunday service and playing,” says Forfia.

Throughout the years, the concert has evolved into an annual celebration of jazz, and more importantly, social justice.

Ike Sturm, the jazz director for Saint Peter’s, played with his group Evergreen to kick off the festival. It was his responsibility to handpick the performers for the night.

“This year, and especially for this program with WeAct, I had really specific ideas about groups that I wanted to play that fit in with that whole mission,” says Sturm. “The artists have actually responded and they’re all playing music that relates to that mission.”

That mission, which is to recognize and resolve environmental-related issues many poorer New Yorkers face, is exactly what those at WeAct strive to uphold.

According to their flier, the members of WeAct “work to inform, educate, train and mobilize the predominantly African-American and Latino residents of Northern Manhattan on issues that impact their quality of life.”

Tenya Steele, the director of Environmental Health for WeAct, spoke briefly at the festival.

“We’re organizing and educating community residents about climate change, toxic exposure and how it is related to our health… things of that nature,” said Steele.

One of the main focuses right now for the organization is indoor air quality. Steele and other members of the group are working with New York City council members to pass the bill that would require landlords to take extra action to repair indoor issues of homes, such as mold, lead and pests.

After her talk, the night continued with tremendous jazz music and fun.

Rudy Royston (drums) and his Soul Quintet took the stage at 7. He was joined by John Ellis (tenor saxophone), Hank Roberts (cello), Gary Versace (accordion) and Linda Oh (upright bass).

At 8, Kate McGarry (vocals) sang a few tunes with Gary Versace (piano) and Keith Ganz (guitar), including an improv rendition of “Whatever Lola Wants” with Rudy Royston on the drums.

Fabian Almazan’s Rhizome nine person ensemble played at 9. This included Almazan (piano), Camila Meza (voice/guitar), Linda Oh (bass), E.J. Strickland (drums), Megan Gould (violin I), Tomoko Omura (violin II), Benjamin von Gutzeit (viola) and Noah Hoffeld (cello).

After that, Lauren Sevian (baritone sax) performed with a few others, including Robert Rodriguez (piano), Boris Koslov (bass) and E.J. Strickland (drums).

At 11, Arturo O’Farrill (piano) and the Afro Jazz Orchestra took the stage.

The final performance of the night was the Billy Hart Academy, led by Billy Hart himself. He (drums) was joined by Alexander Cummings (saxophone), Dan Pappalardo (bass) and Jackson Laskey (piano).

The festival concluded soon after midnight. Many had shuffled inside the sanctuary in that 8-hour span to hear and experience the true message behind All Nite Soul.

Mike Forfia believes that jazz has always had a deep-rooted relationship with the ministry at Saint Peter’s.

“The music can enhance the message, and the message can influence the music. Either one can stand on its own, but together… they can create something greater.”

Saint Peter’s Church is located at the intersection of 54th Street and Lexington Avenue. It holds a weekly jazz vespers every Sunday at 5PM.