Evening worship with contemporary prose, poetry, scripture reading and amazing jazz music in our church lounge this time featuring The Gil Scott Trio.
Come and celebrate God as we do a new thing in the spirit of Psalm 150.
Dr. Ardie Walser as singer, pianist and songwriter, was a member of the award winning vocal trio BLACK TIE, two-time winners of the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Club (MAC) Award for Outstanding Vocal Group and the winners of the Bistro Awards for Outstanding Vocal Group and Best New York Debut. With Black Tie he has shared the stage with the likes of Melba Moore at Carnegie Hall; Sylvia Sims and Ann Hampton Callaway at Town Hall; and Noel Pointer at Avery Fisher Hall; and performed on radio and appeared on a number of TV shows such as The Joan Rivers Show. He has recorded with a wide range of artists from cabaret to pop including – Jazz Composer, Anke Helfrich; Cabaret Artist, Natalie Douglas; Salsa Singer, Michael Stuart; and Salsa Star, Marc Anthony.
Gil Scott Chapman - Pianist
Gil Scott Chapman was born and raised in the town of Westfield, NJ. He began his classical music studies at the age of 7 with Dr. Loretta Jankowski; where under her tutelage he won and placed in various piano competitions.
Gil earned his Bachelors in Jazz Studies–and Masters in Improvisation from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)–where he had the opportunity to study under world renown jazz pianists Geri Allen and Benny Green.
Gil’s had the pleasure of participating and placing in various international piano competitions, in places such as South Africa, Switzerland, and England; and he currently enjoys touring as a pianist for The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and performing in residency at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.
Charlie Himel, Bassist
Bassist Charlie Himel grew up in a musical family in Falls Church, VA. His grandfather was a college choir director, and his parents met competing at a Battle of the Bands. Since moving to Brooklyn, NY in 2014, he has had the humbling opportunity to work with jazz luminaries such as Michael Kanan, Peter Mihelich, Alex Graham, Greg Ruggiero, Katie Cosco, Steve Ash, and Carol Morgan.
He has held residencies and toured with bands such as the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Grand Hotel Orchestra, The James Hunter Six, Nefesh Mountain Band, and Wild Magnolia.
Charlie now resides in Englewood, NJ, and maintains a full-time schedule as an in-demand bassist in the Tri-State area and abroad.
Jarrett D. Walser - Drummer, Composer, Educator
Jarrett Walser is a musician who brings a vibrant sensitivity, rich nuance, and expressive style to the drums. His ease and versatility in several genres (jazz, rock, R&B, funk) make him a highly sought-after drummer. As a band member of Billy Carrión’s, Higher Standards; Lance Bryant & SHOUT!; Sacred Machines; U.L.T.R.A. S.; and Vethaken; you can hear the infusion of those styles on display.
At the age of three, what started as a curious, playful orchestration on pots and pans grew into a passion. Jarrett’s first love has always been jazz. This allure continued at age 11 when he began studying at NJPAC TD Jazz for Teens program in 2001. After his studies at NJPAC, he continued to pursue his passion for music at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, where he received his B.A. (2012) and M.M. (2017) in Jazz Performance. Jarrett has made a career playing with various artists over a wide variety of genres, from jazz to rock to theater. Some notable artists Jarrett has performed with include bassist Rufus Reid and Kenny Davis, trumpeters Valery Ponomarev and Eddie Allen, vocalist Carla Cook, and Chico Freeman, to name a few.
When not performing, Jarrett is an educator at The Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, NJPAC, and His & Her Music, where he shares his love of music and inspires the next generation of young artists.