Join us for a radiant morning of Jesus and Jazz, where spirit and song rise together as the incomparable pianist Cyrus Chestnut, Grammy‑winning producer, bassist John Lee, and master drummer Winard Harper fill Mount Zion AME Church with music that stirs the soul and lifts the heart. It will be a gathering of faith, fellowship, and sound — where sound becomes sanctuary and every rhythm opens a new door to praise.

Space is limited so please let us know if we should expect you by reserving your space via eventbrite RSVP or email at mtzionamemillburn@gmail.com

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Joining us

Cyrus Chestnut

Cyrus Chestnut is one of the most gifted and innovative jazz pianists of his generation, celebrated for a style that seamlessly blends gospel, classical influences, and straight‑ahead jazz. Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1963, he grew up in a deeply musical church family, first learning piano at age seven and playing in worship services at Mount Calvary Baptist Church. This early grounding in gospel shaped the soulful, spiritual depth that defines his sound today.

A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Chestnut has built a remarkable career as a pianist, composer, and producer, performing internationally and recording for major labels including Atlantic, Warner Bros., and TelarcWikipedia. His playing has been praised for its emotional power and fearless creativity; Time magazine once wrote that Chestnut’s brilliance comes from “a willingness to abandon notes and play space”.

Across decades of acclaimed performances, Cyrus Chestnut has become a defining voice in contemporary jazz—an artist whose music carries the warmth of gospel, the sophistication of jazz tradition, and the expressive freedom of a true improviser.

John Lee

John Lee is an accomplished bassist, Grammy-winning record producer, and audio engineer.

Early Life and Education:

• John Gregory Lee was born on June 28, 1952, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. His parents were Rev. John W. Lee, an African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) minister, and Harriet Holland Lee, a career social worker.
• He grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, Amityville, New York, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• John began learning the string bass in 1962 under the guidance of Carolyn Lush.
• He attended Philadelphia’s Overbrook High School and later studied at the Philadelphia Musical Academy (now the University of the Arts) from 1970 to 1972.
• During this time, he also performed with musicians like Carlos Garnett and Joe Henderson.
• In August 1972, John and drummer Gerry Brown relocated to Europe, where they toured and recorded with various bands.

Career Highlights:

After moving to New York City in 1974, John Lee collaborated with artists such as Joe Henderson, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Norman Connors.

• He joined Larry Coryell’s band, The Eleventh House, in December 1974.
• In 1975, Lee and Gerry Brown signed a recording contract with Blue Note Records and formed their own working band.
• Lee began producing records in 1977.
• From 1982 to 1984, he worked with jazz pianist McCoy Tyner.
• In July 1984, John Lee became Dizzy Gillespie’s bassist, touring and recording with Dizzy’s Quintet, Big Band, and the Grammy-winning “United Nation Orchestra.”
• Lee has performed in concert halls and jazz clubs across more than 100 countries worldwide.
• He has also played with notable artists like Sonny Rollins, James Moody, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Heath, Pharoah Sanders, and many others.
• Lee was a founding member of “The Fantasy Band” (1993-1996) alongside Chuck Loeb, Marion Meadows, and Dave Samuels.
• Since 1996, he has been the director and bassist of the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, and the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience.

John Lee’s contributions to jazz music and his extensive work as a bassist, producer, and recording engineer have left a lasting impact on the music industry.

Winard Harper

Winard Harper is an acclaimed jazz drummer, bandleader, and educator whose dynamic style and deep musicality have made him one of the most respected percussion voices in modern jazz. Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1962, Harper showed prodigious talent early—first discovered tapping rhythms on cans as a toddler and performing with his older brother Danny’s band by age five. winardharperjazz.com. His artistic path was set at age eleven when he heard Clifford Brown and Max Roach’s recording of “Jordu,” a moment that awakened his lifelong devotion to jazz.

Harper’s professional rise began in the early 1980s with major gigs alongside Dexter Gordon and Johnny Griffin. His career accelerated further during four formative years with Betty Carter, whose demanding bandstand sharpened his virtuosity, showmanship, and musical sensitivity. From 1988 to 1993, he co‑led the celebrated group The Harper Brothers with his brother, trumpeter Philip Harper, performing with a powerhouse lineup of rising jazz stars including Javon Jackson, Justin Robinson, Walter Blanding, and Stephen Scott.

As a leader, Harper has recorded multiple albums, led acclaimed ensembles including his sextet and Jeli Posse, and performed at major venues such as Lincoln Center. His playing is known for its explosive creativity, mastery of global percussion traditions, and deep commitment to the swing and bebop lineage.

Lynette Sheard

Lynette Sheard is a remarkably versatile vocalist with a stunning five‑octave range, celebrated for her soulful command of Jazz, R&B, Gospel, Soul, and Pop. She is also an accomplished actor, producer, and director whose performances have been praised in The New York Times, The Record, and The Chronicle. The Star‑Ledger and countless fans often say that her voice “reaches deep into one’s soul and finds a soft spot.”

Sheard serves as a Director with the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, where she uses the arts as a powerful tool for healing, empowerment, and community connection. Her commitment to service extends to her work as a founding member of The Guiding Stars, a medical‑missions ensemble of professional performers who uplift veterans, children, and communities in need. Her performances have helped raise thousands of dollars for Hurricane Katrina survivors, Haitian relief efforts, the Red Cross, and numerous local charities.

A dynamic presence on stage, her theater credits include principal roles in Dreamgirls, Smokey Joe’s Café, Ragtime, Swing, Aida, and an encore performance as Lena Younger (Mama) in A Raisin in the Sun. She also serves as the primary vocalist for the Jesus & Jazz series, where her voice brings warmth, spirit, and emotional depth to this celebrated worship‑and‑music experience.

As a board member of Pleasant Valley Productions, she has helped produce a range of successful events at the Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center (OSPAC) in West Orange, NJ, further demonstrating her leadership in the arts and her commitment to community enrichment.

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Event Free Open to All Please register and Let us know you are coming to join us..

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Jesus and Jazz Sessions are held monthly on the 4th Sunday of the Month and are curated by Gregory Burrus Productions.

Please join us.

 ​Jesus and Jazz: Where Spirit Meets Sound

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