Evening worship with contemporary prose, poetry, scripture reading and amazing jazz music in our church lounge this time featuring The Tomoko Ohno 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.
Tomoko Ohno - pianist
Tomoko Ohno, born in Tokyo, began piano studies at the age of 4. As a teenager, she began playing professionally in the Tokyo area jazz scene.
After graduating from Rikkyo University in Law and Politics, Miss Ohno moved to the United States and entered the Jazz Studies Program at William Paterson University in New Jersey, where she studied with Harold Mabern and Rufus Reid. During this time she had the opportunity to perform with such artists as Jerome Richardson, Wynton Marsalis, Benny Golson and Joe Henderson. A recipient of the Student Award of Outstanding Performance and a member of the Dean’s List, Miss Ohno graduated with a B.A. in Jazz Studies.
She has performed at Lincoln Center, Weill Recital, Carnegie Hall, The Blue Note, Birdland , in addition to appearing on live radio broadcasts by WBGO and WNYC, and ABC TV's Good Morning America. She has performed and/or recorded with Slide Hampton, Claudio Roditi, James Spaulding, Houston Person, James Spaulding, Rufus Reid, Scott Robinson,The John Lee Quartet, The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Big Band and Sherrie Maricle and the Diva Jazz Orchestra, Diva Five Play, Jay Leonhart trio, Jay 7, as well as working as a side musician with such diverse musical ensembles as the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble and The Spirit of Life Ensemble.
Miss Ohno also leads her own group, and has released three CDs on the Japan-based Tokuma label. In 1997 her first album, “Powder Blue” was released, and in 1999 her second album, “Affirmation” was released, followed in 2000 by the album "Natural Woman." Her album "Shadows of Spring" (recorded in Argentina) was released by MDR Records in 2005. "Tomoko Ohno in Buenos Aires" was also released by MDR Records in 2007. The duet album with legendary Argentine guitarist Ricardo Lew " From Tokio to Buenos Aires " was released in 2011 spring. The duo added the cellist Nestor Tedesco from Teatro Colon and released Tango/Jazz album " Tres Sabores " in 2016.
Miss Ohno and bassist Jay Leonhart released their duo album " Don't You Wish !" in 2018 and Jay Leonhart Trio released their first trio album “Joy” from Sunnyside Record in 2019 with Vito Lesczak on drums.
She is also a member of Trilateral Project with Brazilian drummer Samuel Martinelli and Bassist Marcus McLaurine. Their first album with special guest Russell Malone, “ Synchronicities” was released in 2023. Ms. Ohno was also part of the legendary bassist Bill Crow's Octet at Jazz at Lincoln Center Let Freedom Swing program in 2023.
Her latest album with Jay Leonhart on bass and Dennis Mackrel will be released on May 1st, 2026.
Jennifer Vincent - Bassist
Bassist, cellist Jennifer Vincent has been an active force on the music scene in New York City for the past twenty years. She has played and toured with the likes of Jon Hendricks, Betty Carter, Bobby Sanabria, the Harry Whitaker Group, Ray Vega, Mo’ Guajiro, Doc Cheatham, Carmen Lundy, The Roberto Rodriguez Septet, and Regina Carter, to name a few. She also tours regularly with The Duke Ellington Orchestra, and can be heard on Abbey Lincoln’s Verve release: Over the Years.
Ms. Vincent is equally comfortable in a wide variety of idioms including jazz, Latin jazz, and traditional Cuban music. Her teachers have included Ron Carter, Ed Bennett, Andy Gonzales, Buster Williams, and Cuban bass legend Cachaito Lopez of Buena Vista Social Club. Ms. Vincent’s current passion is the music and rhythms of West Africa and the Middle East.
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.