A multi-faith Meditation Exploring the Adventurous Landscape of the Soul
through the Transformative Spirit of Jazz, Storytelling and the Arts.
Sunday, August 7, 2022 at 5:00 pm

FREE
Everyone welcome, young and old

Theme: Sankofa: Moving Forward While Glancing Back


Featuring the Oikos Ensemble

Kim Fuller (vocal), Tim Osiek (trumpet), Cliff Aerie (sax)
Jim Owens (piano), Glen Smith (bass), David True (drums)

Join us in a Coffee House setting in Memorial Hall

Free coffee/tea and homemade baked goods
BYOB (wine/beer) or a picnic basket

Jazz for the Journey is an Inner Jazz exploration created by MICA

(Ministry of Imagination, Creativity and the Arts).


Frequently Asked Questions

 What is Jazz for the Journey?
Jazz for the Journey is an interfaith meditative experience exploring the adventurous landscape of the soul through the transformative spirit of jazz, storytelling and the arts. It’s a bi-monthly gathering for people seeking a creative space to experience great music, explore important life-themes expressed through the arts, and discover spiritual kinship with others.

Jazz and spirituality? What’s the connection?
Jazz is a musical art form based on improvisation. Jazz musicians hone their craft through years of practice enabling them to create spontaneous interpretive motifs—inspired by their Muse. The classical inspiration of the Muse is often equated with the Spirit. For many jazz musicians the act of improvisation is a spiritual offering.

So, this is a religious gathering?
Jazz for the Journey is not a worship service, nor is it -ed to any particular religion. It offers an opportunity to experience the artistry of musicians as they soulfully share their deepest connections through their music. Each Inner Jazz gathering offers creative reflection from a different spiritual tradition.

What if I’m not religious?
Every person has an active interior life. Jazz for the Journey offers a nurturing environment to look inside oneself and reflect on ideas that matter to every individual. Different creative practices — storytelling, the visual arts, poetry — complement the music creating a tapestry weaving together jazz, art and spirit.

Who hosts and guides the meditation?
Jazz for the Journey is the creation of Rev. Cliff Aerie, saxophonist and an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Cliff leads a jazz ministry featuring the Oîkos Ensemble, offering sacred concerts and interfaith jazz worship. Oîkos has performed in more than 300 communities of faith around the country. Cliff is a storyteller and shares encounters from his global travels to set the stage for each jazz medita-on.

Who performs?
Jazz for the Journey is led by Rev. Cliff Aerie and the Oîkos Ensemble. Its members include vocalist Kim Fuller Barnes, pianist Carolbeth True, trumpeter Tim Osiek, bassist Glen Smith and drummer David True. Guest artists will appear on a regular basis.

Who attends?
People from all different ethnic and religious backgrounds, folks with a deep interest in jazz and those who just enjoy music; individuals of various faiths and those with a simple yearning to be in community; people from every strata of society who want a brief respite from the burdens and cares of life. Everyone is welcome. A free-will offering is received at each gathering to help underwrite the cost of the program.

What is the settng?
We gather in an informal jazz cafe setting in Memorial Hall at the church. Free hot beverages and baked goods are available for all.

Jazz for the Journey is created by MICA (Ministry of Imagination, Creativity and the Arts) of First Church, UCC in Webster Groves, at 10 West Lockwood Avenue, 63119.