JAZZ60

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In 1965, The Rev. John Garcia Gensel launched Jazz Vespers as a natural outgrowth of his innovative ministry to the jazz community of New York City.

As his deep and trusting relationships with people grew, Pastor Gensel recognized that to respond faithfully to the needs of jazz musicians, something other than a typical Sunday morning liturgy was required. When you play until 4:00 A.M., there’s no way church at 9:00 A.M. will work! But more than that: Pastor Gensel didn’t want to create a liturgy for the jazz community but with it.

The first Jazz Vespers — held at 5:00 in the evening and with a flexible format — took place in October of 1965. When Pastor Gensel was called to Saint Peter’s in 1966, jazz came with him. Ever since May 15, 1966, Saint Peter’s has remained a weekly gathering place, and Jazz Vespers has endured as a weekly spiritual home for jazz musicians and lovers of jazz alike.

We launch the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Jazz Ministry with an expanded season of Jazz on the Plaza, a newly designed monthly Jazz Social following Jazz Vespers, an array of Jazz Memorials, and an exciting Jazz Vespers lineup  — more than 70 free jazz events for all who love this music. In the spring of 2026, we will host a Gala event to honor this legacy and ensure its future—raising funds to restore Billy Strayhorn’s Steinway grand, rebuild studio spaces destroyed by the devastating 2021 water main break, and refinish the Music Room.

Please return to this page often as we build a photo retrospective and share new jazz features. We need your help in this effort, since our archive was damaged by the water main break. Share your stories, photos, and memorabilia as we continue to expand this Jazz60 website throughout this anniversary year.

 

Photo Retrospective

 

1960s

 

1970s

 

1980s

 

1990s

 

2000s

 

2010s

 

2020s



Jazz Stories

 
 

Jazz Memorials

 

New York, where so many musicians live and die, never had a great American tradition like the New Orleans Jazz Funeral. One man, John Garcia Gensel, changed that. He made jazz funerals at Saint Peter's celebrations of the lives of musicians — with the dignity of a meaningful service, recognition of their achievements, and a place where friends can not only say but play their respects. 

— George Wein, founder of The Newport Jazz Festival

 
06.05.1967 — BILLY STRAYHORN
07.21.1967 — JOHN COLTRANE

Over the course of this 60th Anniversary year we hope to compile a complete list of Jazz memorials held at Saint Peters. Please email jazz60@saintpeters.org with any information you might have to help us remember all those whose life’s work has been honored here.

 

 

Jazz in Community

 

Jazz at Lincoln Center calls itself The House of Swing, but I call this church The House of Swing, too!

— Sheila E. Anderson, WBGO

 

Saint Peter's is the biggest friend to jazz in a long time. 

— Harvie S, Manhattan School of Music

 

John Gensel has been our spiritual guru, our psychiatrist and the greatest booster of American music.

— Max Roach

 

If there's a church that is New York, it's Saint Peter's.

— Earl Caldwell, the Daily News

 

 

Jazz Vespers and More