Matt Cherkoff

On Sunday, November 1, guitarist Matt Chertkoff brings his soulful, swinging guitar to the first-Sunday Communion & Choirs service at Mt. Zion AME Millburn, accompanied by pianist Phil Bingham. A Bergen County native, Matt has performed and recorded with jazz legends including David “Fathead” Newman, Freddy Cole, and Houston Person, and his playing has made him a familiar name on New Jersey stages. His music carries a warmth and spirit that fits a Sunday morning of worship through music — guitar lines that lift the congregation and give the choir room to soar. Join us at 11:30 AM as Matt and Phil help fill the sanctuary for Communion & Choirs.

Mt Zion AME Millburn NJ

Rev. Eyesha K. Marable – Music Minister Phil Bingham – Programming Gregory Burrus

Rev. Eyesha K. Marable is an ordained Itinerant Elder in the AME Church and Pastor of Mt. Zion AME Church in Millburn, NJ. A pioneering leader in worship and liturgical dance, she founded the National Liturgical Dance Network and serves as Dance Coordinator for the AME Church’s 1st Episcopal District. She previously spent 14 years in ministry at the Greater Allen AME Cathedral of New York. Beyond the church, Rev. Marable is the Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement at NJPAC, where she leads arts, equity, and community partnership initiatives across Newark and the region. She holds degrees from NYU (B.A.), The New School (M.S. & Post‑Grad Certificate), and Drew University (M.Div.).

Phil Bingham is a New Jersey‑based pianist, conductor, educator, and music consultant whose career reflects a lifelong dedication to musical excellence, teaching, and spiritual leadership. Born in the Bronx, he began playing piano in church at just eight years old, developing an early fluency in gospel, classical, and later jazz. He studied at the High School of Music & Art and earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Nyack College, laying the foundation for a career that seamlessly blends performance, instruction, and mentorship. Over the decades, he has become widely respected not only as a gifted pianist but also as a thoughtful conductor, skilled arranger, and inspiring teacher whose work spans artistic, educational, and sacred music communities. His long tenure as Minister of Music Emeritus at Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Brooklyn underscores his deep commitment to intentional worship and spiritually grounded musical leadership.

A devoted student and close associate of jazz legend Barry Harris, Bingham serves as Vice President and founding board member of the Barry Harris Institute of Jazz, helping preserve and advance Harris’s influential harmonic methodology. He has taught at Jazz House Kids in Montclair and worked extensively as a teaching artist in New York City schools, nurturing young musicians and fostering meaningful musical experiences for diverse communities. His advanced piano workshops—especially at the Barry Harris Summer Intensive—are celebrated for their rigor, clarity, and compassion, with students praising his rare combination of exceptional musicianship and extraordinary humanity. Whether guiding pianists through bebop harmony, conducting choirs, or mentoring emerging artists, Phil Bingham continues to shape the region’s musical landscape with wisdom, integrity, and a lifelong commitment to artistic excellence.

Gregory Burrus is a New Jersey–based live music ambassador, cultural producer, and community connector who produces and curates more than 300 music and arts events annually across the region. Known for his ability to unite audiences, artists, businesses, and municipalities, he has become one of the most active and trusted organizers in the state’s live‑music landscape. Gregory’s productions span jazz festivals, house‑music celebrations, street fairs, cultural showcases, and multi‑town collaborations that bring neighborhoods to life through rhythm, heritage, and shared experience. His work is defined by meticulous planning, strong partnerships, and a deep commitment to elevating both emerging and established artists while strengthening the cultural fabric of New Jersey communities.

As a live music ambassador, Gregory collaborates with a wide network of respected cultural, civic, and institutional partners whose support strengthens the impact of every event he produces. His work includes ongoing relationships with Mt. Zion AME Church, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies, Clements Place Jazz, Bradley Beach Tourism, Morris Museum, and multiple municipal arts, parks, and downtown organizations across New Jersey. These partnerships reflect the trust placed in Gregory’s ability to deliver polished, community‑centered programming that uplifts artists and engages audiences. By aligning sponsors, venues, cultural institutions, and neighborhood stakeholders, he builds credibility, expands reach, and ensures that each production stands on a foundation of strong collaboration and shared purpose.

Please Join Us

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