All Saints’ Day Jazz Eucharist scheduled to perform at St. Thomas’ Church

(Hamilton, NY) Back in 1994, St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Hamilton wanted to try something new to observe special holy days. The Rev. Elizabeth Gillett was Rector at that time and asked organist Dianne Adams McDowell if there were any jazz settings they could use on All Saints’ Day (November 1). Dianne looked for music, but didn’t find anything she liked. Finally, it was decided to commission her to write a brand new jazz setting. It was so successful that it has been repeated every year since. Sunday, November 1, 2009 will be the 16^th time the St. Thomas’ Jazz Eucharist is featured at the 10:00 AM service.

Writing Jazz settings is something Dianne is well able to do. With husband Jim McDowell, also a gifted musician, she learned her craft on Broadway. The McDowells have a number of complete musicals to their credit and are well known for melodic creativity. “Wind in the Willows” ran at Syracuse Stage and also at the New Victory Theatre in New York City, and a more recent work titled “Bookends” was well received off-Broadway.

The Jazz Eucharist is now a tradition at St. Thomas’ Church. The choir loves the settings of old favorites like “Gather at the River” and “Swing Low Sweet Chariot.” The instrumentalists like to return each year, too. Darryl Pugh plays string bass, Jimmy Johns is on the drums, and John Rohde on sax/flute. Dianne plays the piano and Jim is on trumpet. The lively tunes and stirring rhythms make All Saints’ Day an event the congregation really looks forward to.

The public is invited to the service. St. Thomas’ Church is located behind the Colgate Inn at 12 ½ Madison Street.

All Saints’ Day Jazz Eucharist scheduled to perform at St. Thomas’ Church

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