Christmas vespers set in Jamestown

12/21/2006 - JAMESTOWN — The eighth annual Christmas All-Star Jazz Vespers will take place Saturday at Christ First United Methodist Church. The music service has long been host to some of the finest local and national performers. Noted acts such as Ernie Hawkins, Will McFarlane, The Babalu Swingtime Band, Jodi Vitarelli, Mighty Sam McClain, The West Virginia Wesleyan Jazz Ensemble, Kokomo Time and 10,000 Maniacs members Steve Gustafson and Dennis Drew have graced the Jazz Vespers stage. It has become a tradition for some of the area’s most popular Vespers performers to participate in this yearly event. Founder of the Christ First Jazz Vespers, singer/songwriter Bill Ward regularly performs throughout the country at concerts, youth gatherings and other special events. He also founded the Mayville Bluegrass Festival and serves as the program director for that event. After forming a band in the 1980s, Ward’s varied musical influences were given a format for growth, and the group blended the “every performance is a concert” attitude with blues, folk, country, gospel and swing dance music. While undergoing several incarnations, the Bill Ward Band has performed and continues to perform at numerous concerts and gatherings, including the Jazz Vespers at Christ First United Methodist Church, the Great Blue Heron Fest and the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater. The band released its first CD, “Highway in the Desert,” in 2003, and it has been featured on numerous radio programs, including the Saturday Blues Show on NPR. The album has also enjoyed success overseas, having been featured on radio shows in Belgium, Austria and the United Kingdom. They are currently preparing a recording project for release later in the year. Besides Ward, the band members include drummer Jim Foti, bassist Brent Gallupo, horn specialist John Cross, keyboardist Mark Alpaugh and guitarist Tom Swanson. Among the band’s special guests on Saturday will be violinist Stan Barton, vocalist Sue Waite and gospel/jazz artist Steve Davis. Also scheduled are husband-wife music duo Josie and Tony Flaminio. The Jazz Vespers is a music and arts-based worship service with a minimum of spoken word. It is presented every Saturday at 5 p.m. in Darrah Hall at Christ First United Methodist Church, 663 Lakeview Ave. The community is welcome, free of charge, to every Vespers service. Anyone interested in performing or who is seeking more information about the service should call the church at 664-5803 or Ward at 753-7464.

For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com