By Fountain Street Church
The fifth season of Fountain Street Church’s ‘Jazz in the Sanctuary’ concert series will begin on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 3pm. The series pairs the spontaneous wonder of jazz with the acoustic and architectural beauty of the century-old sanctuary in downtown Grand Rapids.
Robin Connell, series host and staple of the West Michigan jazz scene, will welcome trombonists Paul Brewer and Altin Sencalar for over an hour of exciting music and light conversation. Connell received West Michigan Jazz Society’s 2017 “Musician of the Year” award for her widespread collaboration with area jazz artists and her continuing work on the Jazz in the Sanctuary series.
Brewer, a prolific trombonist and singer, is the Director of Instrumental Music at Aquinas College and the Director of Aquinas Jazz Camp. He has performed with more than 50 nationally touring artists, including Mel Torme, Lena Horne, and The Temptations. His latest project, “J & K — Trombone Tribute”, is an homage to legendary jazz trombonists JJ Johnson and Kai Winding.
Sencalar is an internationally recognized trombonist, music educator, and composer who has opened for the O’Jays and Chaka Khan. He has received prizes for competitions such as the American Trombone Workshop, the International Trombone Association, and Downbeat Magazine’s Student Music Awards. He currently serves as a graduate assistant at Michigan State University.
The second and third concerts of this season will take place on Feb. 10, 2019, featuring pianist Xavier Davis, and May 4, 2019, featuring saxophonist Alain Sullivan and bassist Elgin Vines.
Jazz in the Sanctuary is made possible by the Music Committee of Fountain Street Church, Aquinas College Music Department, Blue Lake Public Radio, West Michigan Jazz Society, WGVU Radio, WOOD-TV, and WYCE 88.1fm.
General admission to each Jazz in the Sanctuary concert is $15 online or at the door. College students may show ID for $10 off. Tickets and additional information are available at fountainstreet.org/jazz.
