A simple but powerful idea: brings together the sacred traditions of worship with the soulful, improvisational heartbeat of jazz. What started as a single service quickly grew into a beloved monthly gathering where faith meets swing, and every note becomes a testimony.

From the very first service under the direction of Rev Eyesha Marable, Music Minister Philip Bigham and Music Curator and Producer Gregory Burrus, , Jesus & Jazz established itself as a space where heritage, community, and spiritual expression come alive. Rooted in the rich legacy of Black American sacred music, the series honors the deep connections between gospel, blues, and jazz — the sounds that have carried generations through struggle, celebration, and praise.

Each month, Jesus & Jazz brings together extraordinary musicians, vocalists, and cultural storytellers, creating worship experiences that are joyful, reflective, and deeply communal. The sanctuary becomes a place of uplift, where the Spirit moves through melody, rhythm, and improvisation. Congregants don’t just attend — they participate, respond, and feel the music in their bones.

Over time, the series has welcomed a growing roster of gifted artists, including celebrated pianists, vocalists, violinists, and ensemble leaders who bring their own histories and testimonies to the space. Each service becomes a unique moment — a blend of scripture, song, swing, and soul — shaped by the musicians’ artistry and the congregation’s energy.

Gregory, Jesus & Jazz has become more than a program. It is:

• A cultural bridge, connecting sacred tradition with contemporary expression
• A community gathering place, welcoming all ages and backgrounds
• A celebration of legacy, honoring the musicians and musical lineages that shaped our faith
• A spiritual refuge, where people find joy, healing, and connection through sound

From February 2024 to today, Jesus & Jazz has grown into a signature worship experience — one that continues to evolve, inspire, and bring people together month after month. It stands as a testament to the power of music to heal, unite, and lift the spirit, and to the enduring beauty of jazz as a sacred language.

The journey continue with each service adding a new chapter to a story rooted in faith, culture, and community. JESUS & JAZZ (2024 – Mt. Zion AME Church • 56 Church St. Millburn, NJ – A Gregory Burrus Productions Legacy Series

 

JESUS & JAZZ (2024 – Mt. Zion AME Church • 56 Church St. Millburn, NJ – A Gregory Burrus Productions Legacy Series

Inaugural Session 2024

Feb 2024 Jesus and Jazz featuring the Phil Bingham Trio with Jarrett Walser and Jason Clotter

March 24, 2024 Jesus and Jazz featuring Roberta Piket Trio w Caylen Bryant and Camille Gainer

April 28, 2024 — Jesus and Jazz featuring James Austin Jr. Trio w Jackie Jones, Ben Ruben, Kayvon Gordon

May 26, 2024 — Mala Waldron Trio feat. Wayne Henderson & Motoki Mihara

June 23, 2024 — John Lee Trio feat. Alex Collins, Karl Latham & Lynette Sheard

August 25, 2024 — Rev. Dr. Alfonso Wyatt, Phillip Bingham, John Lee, Winard Harper & Lynette Sheard

September 22, 2024 , — Brianne Ford Trio, Ozzie Davis, Nori Naraoka & Lynette Sheard

October 27, 2024 — South African JCFI Music Ensemble feat. Sobongile Buda

November 24, 2024 — Kim Clarke Quartet

December 22, 2024 — Nat Adderley Jr., Greg Bufford & Chris Berger

2025

Jan 2025 Sun26 Jesus And Jazz featuring the Steve Ash Trio – Happy New Year

Feb 2025 Sun23 You are Invited to the First Annual Celebration of Jesus and Jazz at Mt Zion AME Milburn NJ

Mar 2025 Sun30 Jesus and Jazz WHM2025 Celebration feat Dorthaan Kirk and Yayoi Ikawa

Apr 2025 Sun27 Jesus and Jazz with the Richard Clements Quartet featuring special guest Wayne Winborne

May 2025 Sun25 Jesus and Jazz feat Phil Bingham Damon Duewhite Kim Clark & Alex Desrivieres

Jun 2025 Sun22 Experience Jesus and Jazz with Glenn Merritt Quartet at Mt Zion AME This Sunday

Jul 2025 Sun27 Jesus and Jazz Presents Hammond B3 Organist and Jazz Pianist Radam Schwartz and Friends

Aug 2025 Sun24 Jesus and Jazz Presents Generations of Jazz feat. Rising Star Pianist Leonieke Scheuble, Bill Crow, Marel Hidalgo and Nick Scheuble

Sep 2025 Sun28 Jesus and Jazz Presents Richard Baratta Quartet f Michael Goetz Patrick Gannon and Lynette Sheard

Oct 2025 Sun26 Join Us Jesus and Jazz featuring John Lee, Winard Harper and Phil Bingham at Mt Zion AME Church Milburn NJ

Nov 2025 Sun23 Jesus and Jazz featuring Bradford Hayes Trio at Mt Zion AME Church Milburn NJ

Dec 2025 Sun7 Tina Fabrique Live at Mt. Zion AME Milburn – A First Sunday Celebration of Blues and Blessings

Dec Sun28 Jesus and Jazz featuring Nat Adderley Jr Trio at Mt Zion AME Church Milburn NJ

2026

Jan Sun25 Jesus and Jazz feat Alexis Morrast with Phil Bingham, Mecadon Mccune and Thadeus Expose

Feb 2026 Sun22 Jesus and Jazz feat Cyrus Chestnut John Lee Winard Harper & Lynette Sheard Mt Zion AME Church Milburn NJ

Links

---

https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-featuring-mala-waldron-trio-w-wayne-henderson-and-motoki-mihara/
https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-featuring-john-lee-trio-w-alex-collins-karl-latham-and-lynette-sheard/
https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-w-rev-dr-alfonso-wyatt-and-phillip-bingham-john-lee-winard-harper-and-lynette-sheard/
https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-on-sept-22-featuring-brianne-ford-trio/
https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-feat-south-african-jcfi-music-ensemble-feat-bassit-sobongile-buda/
https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-feat-kim-clarke-quartet/
https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-feat-nat-adderley-jr-greg-bufford-and-chris-berger-at-mt-zion-ame-milburn-nj/

Links

---

https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-featuring-mala-waldron-trio-w-wayne-henderson-and-motoki-mihara/
https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-featuring-john-lee-trio-w-alex-collins-karl-latham-and-lynette-sheard/
https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-w-rev-dr-alfonso-wyatt-and-phillip-bingham-john-lee-winard-harper-and-lynette-sheard/
https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-on-sept-22-featuring-brianne-ford-trio/
https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-feat-south-african-jcfi-music-ensemble-feat-bassit-sobongile-buda/
https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-feat-kim-clarke-quartet/
https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/jesus-and-jazz-feat-nat-adderley-jr-greg-bufford-and-chris-berger-at-mt-zion-ame-milburn-nj/