September 8, 2019 6:00 p.m.
Hear The Word of God Through Music and Art
A Jazz Vespers Service
Music: A Tribute to Nina Simone
Visual Artist: Mei Xian Qiu
Yvette Freeman Hartley (Vocals) Yvette has starred in the Broadway, First National, Paris and International companies of "Ain't Misbehavin'" the New York production of "Dinah Was," based on the life of the legendary jazz singer Dinah Washington, and won the 1998 Obie for Best Actress. Most recently she starred in Ma Rainey at the Huntington Theater in Boston. She played the role of 101 year old Dr. Bessie in Having Our Say at the acclaimed McCarter Theater directed by Emily Mann.
Two of the TV roles she is most proud of is - Nurse Haleh Adams on the acclaimed dramatic series ER, and the character of Evelyn Smalley on the NBC sitcom Working. In 2010 and 2011, Yvette had the honor of being nominated for NAACP Image Award for her role as Dr. Lewis in the soap opera "The Bold and The Beautiful". Her second album "In My Arms" was released in May 2012.
Lanny Hartley (Piano) Lanny is a member of Northridge United Methodist Church, is a jazz pianist, conductor and composer, and studied Music Education at Indiana University. Jazz piano became his love and he performed with such great Jazz artists as Wes Montgomery, Lou Rawls, and Linda Hopkins. Lanny has also played for such Pop Artists as Thelma Houston, The Fifth Dimension. He has been the Musical Director/Conductor for such shows as Ain't Misbehavin', Tracks (Yolanda King); The Late Great Ladies of Blues and Jazz (Sandra Reeves: The Della Reese Musical Tour; and Dinah Was (New York, Los Angeles, and Williamstown)
Michael Saucier (Bass) Michael is a professional musician, by trade for 40-plus years based in the Los Angeles area. He plays both acoustic and electric basses performing in many genres from classical to blues and much in between. For the past 10 years he has been an instructor at Musician's Institute, focusing on the fundamentals of the instrument (technique) as well as music (theory). Michael believes in having a firm foundation in order to bring out the best in the performer. And also likes to have fun :-)
Don Littleton (Drums) Don Littleton is an accomplished percussionist. His mastery of an enticing array of instruments in his art has uniquely endowed him with the finesse to span many genres, encompassing orchestral, musical theater, rhythm and blues, hip hop, reggae, blues, and is especially proficient in all styles of jazz. A veteran with jazz artist and venues around the world. Don Littleton has a great heart for people and the music.
Pablo Calogero (Saxophone) Pablo began playing saxophones in the 4th grade and later in local bands while attending the High School of Music & Art. During high school, he joined Jaki Byard's Apollo Stompers, and later the Tito Puente Orchestra. Pablo currently plays baritone saxophone in Jazz@Lincoln Center's Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (ALJO). He has recorded with Bebo Valdez (Suite Cubana) and has just released his newest CD with Fabiano Nascimento Calendario Do Som, featuring music from the book of the same title by the composer Hermeto Pasqual.
This month's featured Artist: Mei Xian Qiu Mei Xian Qiu is a Los Angeles based artist. She was born in the town of Pekalongan, on the island of Java, Indonesia, to a third generation Chinese minority family. At birth, she was given various names in preparation for societal collapse and variant potential futures, a Chinese name, an American name and an Indonesian name given by her parents, as well as a Catholic name by the local priest. In the aftermath of the Chinese and Communist genocide, the family immigrated to the United States. She was moved back and forth several times between the two countries during her childhood – her parents initial reaction to what they perceived as the amorality of life in the West countered with the uncertainty of life in Java. Partially as a result of a growing sense of restlessness, her father joined the U.S. Air force and the family lived across the country, sometimes staying in one place for just a month at a time. She has also been based in Europe, China, and Indonesia as an adult.
JAZZ VESPERS NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!
A Freewill Offering Basket is in the Narthex.
Your generous donation will help in keeping the Jazz Vespers available to all those that love jazz.
Please forward this newsletter to those you know who appreciate live music!
Vesper Quotes for the Year 2019
"Jazz does not belong to one race or culture, but is a gift that America has given the world." Ahmed Alaadeen
Psalm 95:1
Oh come, Let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Remembering some of the Jazz and Music Greats who left us recently:
Hugh Masekela, Leon (Ndugu) Chandler, Hamiet Bluiett, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson, Randy Weston, Bob Dorough, Henry Butler, Cecil Taylor, Bill Watrous, Bill Hughes, Roy Hargrove, Hal Blaine
Northridge United Methodist Church
9650 Reseda Blvd
Northridge, CA, 91324
818 886-1555 www.northridgeumc.org
Yvette Freeman Hartley (Vocals) Yvette has starred in the Broadway, First National, Paris and International companies of "Ain't Misbehavin'" the New York production of "Dinah Was," based on the life of the legendary jazz singer Dinah Washington, and won the 1998 Obie for Best Actress. Most recently she starred in Ma Rainey at the Huntington Theater in Boston. She played the role of 101 year old Dr. Bessie in Having Our Say at the acclaimed McCarter Theater directed by Emily Mann.
Lanny Hartley (Piano) Lanny is a member of Northridge United Methodist Church, is a jazz pianist, conductor and composer, and studied Music Education at Indiana University. Jazz piano became his love and he performed with such great Jazz artists as Wes Montgomery, Lou Rawls, and Linda Hopkins. Lanny has also played for such Pop Artists as Thelma Houston, The Fifth Dimension. He has been the Musical Director/Conductor for such shows as Ain't Misbehavin', Tracks (Yolanda King); The Late Great Ladies of Blues and Jazz (Sandra Reeves: The Della Reese Musical Tour; and Dinah Was (New York, Los Angeles, and Williamstown)
Michael Saucier (Bass) Michael is a professional musician, by trade for 40-plus years based in the Los Angeles area. He plays both acoustic and electric basses performing in many genres from classical to blues and much in between. For the past 10 years he has been an instructor at Musician's Institute, focusing on the fundamentals of the instrument (technique) as well as music (theory). Michael believes in having a firm foundation in order to bring out the best in the performer. And also likes to have fun :-) 
Don Littleton (Drums) Don Littleton is an accomplished percussionist. His mastery of an enticing array of instruments in his art has uniquely endowed him with the finesse to span many genres, encompassing orchestral, musical theater, rhythm and blues, hip hop, reggae, blues, and is especially proficient in all styles of jazz. A veteran with jazz artist and venues around the world. Don Littleton has a great heart for people and the music. 
Pablo Calogero (Saxophone) Pablo began playing saxophones in the 4th grade and later in local bands while attending the High School of Music & Art. During high school, he joined Jaki Byard's Apollo Stompers, and later the Tito Puente Orchestra. Pablo currently plays baritone saxophone in Jazz@Lincoln Center's Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (ALJO). He has recorded with Bebo Valdez (Suite Cubana) and has just released his newest CD with Fabiano Nascimento Calendario Do Som, featuring music from the book of the same title by the composer Hermeto Pasqual. 
