Jazz Vespers on Sunday, March 23 at 4pm

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2014 Downbeat Critics Poll Winner and Grammy Award winning tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery is one of the Jazz world’s most talented rising stars and in-demand sidemen. In 2006 he secured one of the most coveted gigs in jazz: a frontline position in Tom Harrell’s working quintet. For over a decade Escoffery was mostly associated with trumpet master having toured the globe with the trumpeter, recorded seven CDs with The Tom Harrell Quintet and co-produced four of those releases. He has also been a member of The Mingus Dynasty, Big Band and Orchestra since 2000 and has made several recordings with the group. Over the years he has recorded and performed internationally with the who’s who in Jazz including Ron Carter, Ben Riley, Abdulah Ibrahim, Eric Reed, Carl Allen, Al Foster, Billy Hart, Eddie Henderson, Rufus Reid, Wallace Roney and Herbie Hancock just to name a few. Escoffery leads his own groups which tour internationally and has made several highly acclaimed studio recordings with said groups. His current working quartet features pianist David Kikoski, bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Ralph Peterson and has a released three albums, the latest of which is The Humble Warrior on the Smoke Sessions Records label. Escoffery is also a founding member of a collaborative group called Black Art Jazz Collective which is comprised of fellow rising star musicians of his generation and is dedicated to celebrating the origins of Jazz and African American Icons through originally composed music.

In addition to performing, Escoffery is dedicated to music education and presents lectures and masterclasses on Jazz music. He is currently the saxophone instructor for The New Jersey Performing Arts Wells fargo Jazz for Teens program, and currently teaches private online and in person lessons for all instruments. In the fall of 2016 Wayne Escoffery was appointed Lecturer of Jazz Improvisation and ensemble coach at the Yale School of Music as a part of Yale Universitiy’s Jazz Initiative, the first of its kind for the University. The vast array of contributions Wayne Escoffery has made to the Jazz world in such a short time leads seasoned industry professionals like Niel Tesser to write “ Pay special attention to tenor man Wayne Escoffery whose rapid development - from album to album (and seemingly solo to solo) - has given us a jazz hero for the coming decade.

Jazz Vespers on 2/23 @ 4:00pm

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Pasquale Grasso, an Italian-born guitarist now based in New York, is renowned for his extraordinary technique and unique blend of jazz and classical influences. Pat Metheny, in a 2016 interview, praised Grasso as "the best guitar player I've heard in maybe my entire life," noting his ability to capture the essence of bebop piano on guitar—particularly the styles of Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie. Grasso’s sound is deeply influenced by classical guitar and jazz giants, including Art Tatum and Joe Pass, leading to a highly distinctive solo style.

Grasso won the Wes Montgomery International Jazz Guitar Competition in 2015 and has performed with notable artists such as Pat Martino, Charles Davis, and Freddie Redd. He regularly performs at Mezzrow in New York and continues to evolve as a musician, blending traditional jazz with classical elements. Grasso’s debut digital EPs with Sony Masterworks, showcasing his mastery of solo guitar, further cement his reputation in the jazz world.

Growing up in Italy, Grasso was inspired by his family’s love of music, especially jazz and classical. He was mentored by guitarist Agostino Di Giorgio and later by bebop legend Barry Harris. In 2008, Grasso began studying classical guitar, further enriching his jazz technique. Since relocating to New York in 2012, he’s been a prominent figure on the jazz scene, performing with jazz legends and exploring the works of jazz icons like Monk, Powell, and Parker.

Stewardship Sunday 11/17 at 10am

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Dear Beloved members of Pound Ridge Community Church,

We are Grateful for the work God has started in each of us, and we trust that God will continue to transform us. Gratefulness keeps us grounded in the present while reminding us of the potential for what is to come. Our gratitude fuels our longing to become more fully who God has created us to be. Effective stewardship requires wise Administration of the resources we’ve been entrusted with. Our collective administration of time, talent, and treasure is a direct reflection of our commitment to seeing the good work God has begun in us come to fruition. In 2024, we successfully completed several maintenance projects that have refreshed our space and made it more welcoming. Additionally, your ongoing financial support helps the office run smoothly, allowing us to effectively serve both the church and the broader community. Our Programs and ministries are vital in helping us bridge the gap between who we are and the people God is calling us to become. In 2024, we offered the following programs: Jazz Vespers, Messy Church, Dream to All, Wooffstock, PRCC Chancel Choir, Promise Kids, Promise Kids’ Bell Choir, and Pound Ridge Play School are the tangible ways in which we journey together. In the year ahead, we will focus on G.A.P while also working to close the gap in our financial resources. Every contribution you make is meaningful, but your financial support is especially crucial in ensuring smooth administration and sustaining both ongoing and new programs that bring the light to people. Every size gift is appreciated and welcomed.

Jazz Vespers on Nov. 17 at 4pm

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Bassist and composer Martin Wind was born in Flensburg, Germany in 1968 and has been living in the

New York City area since 1996. 

He earned a diploma as Orchestra Musician at the Cologne Conservatory and completed his master’s degree in jazz composition and performance at NYU. 

 

In 1995 Martin came in third at the International Thelonious Monk Bass Competition in Washington, D.C.,

and in 1996 he won the first Cognac Hennessy/Blue Note Jazz Search in Germany. 

 

In 2000 he was the first jazz musician to win the Cultural Award of his home state Schleswig-Holstein.

 

Martin has released more than 20 albums as leader/co-leader including his debut album “Gone with the Wind” (1993), quartet recordings “Salt & Pepper” (2007) and “Get it?” (2009), as well as the orchestral album “Turn out the Stars – music written or inspired by Bill Evans” (2014) featuring Scott Robinson (tenor sax), Bill Cunliffe (piano) and Joe La Barbera (drums), which Paquito D’Rivera called “disgustingly beautiful”. 

More recent releases include “Light Blue” (2018) and “White Noise” (2020), both of which received four-star reviews in Downbeat Magazine. Late 2021 saw the release of his latest album “My Astorian Queen” in celebration of the 25th anniversary of his move to New York City.

 

Martin Wind has recorded and/or performed with the following artists: Guidon Kremer, Christoph Eschenbach, Mstislav Rostopowitch, Lalo Schifrin, Monty Alexander, Pat Metheny, Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Toots Thielemans, Buddy DeFranco Michael and Randy Brecker, Eddie Daniels, Phil Woods, Johnny Griffin, Bucky Pizzarelli, Johnny Mandel, Frank Wess, James Moody, Hank Jones, John Scofield, Sting, Ann Hampton Callaway, Michel Legrand, Anat Cohen, Benny Green, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and others.

 

Since 2015 he's been part of the Kennedy Center Honors Gala, backing up world stars such as James Taylor, Reneé Fleming, John Legend, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock a.o. 

 

In 2018 he premiered his bass concerto “Legacy” with his hometown orchestra; he has also written the sonata “Into the light” for bass and piano, many arrangements, and original compositions for bass ensemble and about 100 jazz tunes and concert pieces.