NYC’s unique jazz prayer service, Sundays at 5 since 1965.

ABOUT JIM RIDL (piano)

Jim Ridl is a New York City jazz pianist, composer, teacher, and band leader. Jim performs worldwide with a variety of jazz artists, including The Joe Locke Quartet, The Dave Liebman Big Band, The Paul Jost Quartet, and the Mingus Big Band.

He has toured with the U.S. State Department American Music Abroad program, performing in Russia, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Slovenia and Malta. For five years, until its recent closing, he had a residency at the internationally known jazz club, The 55 Bar, where he and his quartet performed his original compositions.

As a composer and leader, Jim has released seven recordings, most recently, Door in a Field,Volume 2. From 1994 – 2004, Jim performed with jazz guitar legend Pat Martino, receiving critically acclaimed reviews of performances around the world, and producing four outstanding recordings: Interchange, Night Wings, The Maker, and Nexus.

ABOUT CHARLES PILLOW (saxophone)

Charles Pillow comes from Baton Rouge, LA. After college at Loyola University, he pursued his Masters Degree in Jazz Studies at the prestigious Eastman School of Music, in Rochester, NY. Since moving to NYC in 1987, he has appeared on over 100 recordings of jazz, pop luminaries such as Frank Sinatra, Mariah Carey, Jay Z,Luther Vandross, Paul Simon, Michael Brecker, Bruce Springsteen, John Scofield, Tom Harrell, Dave Liebman, David Sanborn, to name a few. He has 5 solo recordings available, Currents, In this World, Pictures at an Exhibition, The Planets, van Gogh letters. Known as a saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist and oboist, his recordings showcase those instruments. In addition to an active performing and recording schedule, he is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Saxophone at the Eastman school of Music.

ABOUT JAY ANDERSON (bass)

Bassist/composer Jay Anderson is among the most versatile and respected jazz artists performing today. He has performed/recorded with a wide range of jazz artists including Woody Herman, Carmen McRae, Michael Brecker, Paul Bley, Bob Mintzer, John Abercrombie, Dave Liebman, Joe Sample, Maria Schneider, Stanley Cowell, John Scofield, Lee Konitz, Vic Juris, Red Rodney, Ira Sullivan, Mike Stern, Anat Cohen, Toots Thielemans, Kenny Wheeler, Jay Clayton and non-jazz artists like Oswaldo Golijov, Dawn Upshaw, The Australian Chamber Orchestra, Robert Spano (Atlanta Symphony), Michael Franks, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Terre Roche, Chaka Khan, Michel Legrand, Allen Ginsberg, and Celine Dion. He has been featured on over 400 recordings, seven of which have received the Grammy Award. His original recordings “NEXT EXIT” (DMP), “LOCAL COLOR” (DMP), and “DEEPSCAPE” (Steeplechase) have received critical acclaim both in the U.S. and abroad. Jay has conducted clinics around the world and is a Professor of Jazz Bass Studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City and New Jersey City University.