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Setting the mood right at the Vail Jazz Party, for a most popular tradition is the Gospel Prayer Meetin’ led by the exhilarating Niki Haris and her gospel ensemble! Join us bright and early at 9 am on September 4^th, for a wonderful celebration of worship through music. Featuring artists Niki Haris {v}, Bobby Floyd {p + b3}, Jerohn Garnett {b}, Lucianna Padmore {d}, Nate Radley {g}, Jeff Clayton {as}, Tim Warfield {ts}, Terell Stafford {t}, Byron Stripling {t}, Wycliffe Gordon {tb}, Mile Hi Gospel Ensemble.

You may ask what do gospel and jazz have exactly in common together? Why do these two genres have heavily influenced each other? Why gospel at a jazz festival? Well, these two genres have more in common probably than you think! Let’s look into how the blues have certainly served as a bridge between these two genres. Dating back to the 1800’s in America’s south, where call and response would establish itself as a form of expression. African-Americans would find a way to celebrate Christianity through the expression of music in a new, and soulful style that would touch hearts with powerful repetition both lyrically and melodically. Musician Thomas Dorsey would be known for the founding father of Gospel during the 1930’s.

We have seen many contemporary artists serve as a crossover artists within these genres such as Mahalia Jackson, Kirk Franklin, and Mary Mary all who have combined their strong faith, while applying jazz techniques, instrumentation and harmonies. Many talented artists who have a strong calling to serve their church and faith, but still wanted to pursue music full time, have found the time and the creative passion for blending the two together such as jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum. Over the years gospel music has influenced a large part of the jazz community, bringing musicians even closer together as trusted friends, and colleagues.

Niki Haris does a brilliant job at combining jazz and gospel together in a performance, through instrumentation, vocal delivery, and lyric commitment, she is able to reach through jazz and gospel audiences alike for a heart felt performance. Watch this recent performance of Niki Haris with full choir from the Mile Hi Gospel Ensemble and renown rhythm section: https://youtu.be/J_e7QhVMlyg

If you’ve never heard the way the organ resonates, how the tambourine jingles, or the syncopation of the drums, then you are truly missing out on this soulful experience! Grab your tickets today at https://vailjazz.org/events/gospel-prayer-meetin-2/