By It’s a Sunday at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on the North Side. James Johnson Jr. is at the piano, joined by bassist Tony DePaolis, drummer Tom Wendt, saxophonist/clarinetist Lou Schrieber and vocalist Betty Douglas.
The group is performing during the monthly ecumenical jazz service.
Celebrating its 27th season, the Jazz Mass is held the second Sunday of every month at 5 p.m.
Each service has a thematic focus and the music is interspersed with messages.
In addition to music — ranging from standards to bebop — there are occasional poetry and drama presentations.
Jazz and religion have had a long, storied association. They are the “twin mates of spiritual expression,” the late Pittsburgh pianist Mary Lou Williams once said.