Jazz Vespers: Tomoko Omura, Glenn Zaleski, Pablo Menares, Jay Sawyer
Tomoko Omura, Glenn Zaleski, Pablo Menares, Jay Sawyer
Saint Peter's Church619 Lexington Avenue, New York 10022
Tomoko Omura leads a Jazz Vespers quartet with pianist Glenn Zaleski, bassist Pablo Menares and drummer Jay Sawyer. The evening is part of the weekly jazz prayer service.
Born and raised in Shizuoka, Japan and now based in New York, Omura is a violinist and composer whose music brings together jazz improvisation, traditional Japanese melodies and modern rhythms. Her Branches Vol. 2 was named among Bandcamp’s Best Jazz of 2021; Jazz Weekly called her sound “rich and warm,” with an “alluring and optimistic” tone.
Saint Peter's Church offers a unique setting where jazz music and spiritual history intertwine beneath the streets of Midtown Manhattan. The venue is a 178-seat space located in the church's lower level, featuring a recently restored Strayhorn piano that highlights its deep jazz roots. The room’s acoustics are carefully designed to support a range of performances, from intimate jazz sets to more expansive musical events, with a digital sound system enhancing every note. The audience can expect a focused listening experience in a space that balances reverence and artistic expression, often accompanied by a bar but no full restaurant. Shows are typically ticketed, and the environment encourages attentive appreciation rather than casual conversation, making for an evening where music and history resonate together.