Past Performers

Vocalist Mili Bermejo sang for us in the 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-2001, and 2001-2002 seasons, bringing dazzling evenings of Latin jazz. Bermejo came to Boston in 1980 to study at Berklee College of Music, where she is now a Professor of Voice.

October 1999's artist was pianist Ellen Cantarow, returning for her second year as a Jazz Vespers contributor.

In June and November 2002 and April 2003 we welcomed the Jacques Chanier Trio (Jacques Chanier, piano; Thomson Kneeland, bass; and Take Toriyama, drums).

Guitarist and composer Garrison Fewell was our featured artist in December 2001, when he was joined by David Zinno on bass and Grover Mooney, widely known as the leader of the "Moon Unit" band, on drums.

In May 2000, April 2002, and September 2002, Hungarian-born pianist and composer Laszlo Gardony delighted us with his joyful compositions.

In November 2001, saxophonist Charlie Kohlhase performed with his group CK5, including Jason Hunter and Matt Langley on tenor saxophone, Scott Barnum on bass, and Robert Roses on drums.

In May 2003, the Lexington High School Septet presented their musical offering. The LHS Septet is a student-directed jazz ensemble from Lexington High School. The award-winning Septet has appeared at numerous local music festivals and competitions, including those at the University of New Hampshire and the Berklee College of Music. Septet members are Ben Bautz, alto saxophone; Steve Czerwinskid, guitar; Brady Hearn, bass; Sam Mehr, piano & tenor saxophone; Joe Musacchia, drums, Jason Rogers, tenor saxophone; and Rafi Singer, drums.

March 2000 brought a return engagement by the late, multi-reed, New York-based artist Makanda Ken McIntyre, whose quartet featured John Kordalewski on piano, Larry Roland on bass, and Syd Smart on drums.

In November 1999, we welcomed the Marco Panascia Jazz Trio: Marco Panascia (double bass), Kari Harris (trombone) and Romain Pilon (guitar). Hailing from Italy, Seattle, and France, respectively, all three members of the trio are affiliated with the Berklee School of Music.

April 2000 offered an evening of introspective blues and spiritual exploration with the Peter Parcek Duo. Parcek is a guitarist who has performed and recorded with Pinetop Perkins, Koko Taylor, The Holmes Brothers, Johnny Copeland, the Grateful Dead and Joan Osborne to name a few.

In October 2002, Russian-born jazz guitarist Peter Podobry made his debut Jazz Vespers appearance. Podobry is a familiar Harvard Square performer who plays in a wide range of styles.

The Jeff Robinson Trio (Jeff Robinson, saxophone; Blake Newman, bass; and Jerome Deupree, drums) opened our 2001-2002 season. The Trio is well known in Cambridge as the hosts of the open mike Poetry Slam at the Lizard Lounge on Massachusetts Avenue. As the Boston Globe put it, the Trio is "the glue at the Lizard on Sunday, weaving sinuous riffs that meld uncannily with the rhythm of the poetry."

September 1999 brought us pianist Ray Santisi ("Boston's most in-demand jazz pianist"--The Boston Phoenix) and his working sextet, the Real Thing, playing standards from the Great American Songbook. Santisi returned for a second visit in March 2002.

Joel Larue Smith was our guest artist in March and October 2003. Smith is a pianist, arranger and composer who has toured extensively throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. His blend of Afro-Cuban rhythmic patterns, jazz harmonic music, and classical music creates a richly textured sound colored with unpredictable delights.

In January 2000, the Salim Washington Septet came to UniLu. Washington (tenor sax, flute), who received both bachelor's and doctoral degrees from nearby Harvard, was joined by Bobby Ward on drums, John Kordalewski on piano, Curtis Reeves on alto sax and Melanie Dyer on viola.

In December 2002, Deanna Witkowski made her Jazz at the Church debut. Witkowski is a New York based pianist and vocalist and the winner of the 2002 Great American Jazz Piano Competition.  A former music director of All Angels' Episcopal Church in New York, Witkowski has composed two jazz masses as well as a multitude of arrangements and original works for gospel choir, brass/organ, jazz trio, and mixed choir.