Gospel notes will ring on May 6

Tom Morse-Brown photo and playbill

The profound influence of gospel informs jazz, pop, and soul music. Jazz pioneers like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington were exposed to gospel in church settings where they absorbed its improvisational spirit.

Gospel’s emphasis on collective participation and powerful storytelling found its way into swing, with its lively, danceable beats and uplifting energy. The blues, a relative of gospel, also contributed to jazz’s soulful melodies and expressive depth.

Join us at 4:30 p.m. on May 6 for a Gospel Happy Hour with Charles Williams on piano, Chris Hazelton on Hammond B3, and a choir led by Millie Edwards and Pat Brown-Dixon.