The group is comprised of myself on trumpet, Rick Case on drums, Joe DeMaio on bass, Oscar Duarte on auxiliary percussion and Jennie Tielman on piano.  Jennie was unable to make it so Linda Pettinelli (my sister) filled in quite ably for her. We played “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” and “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder”.  This was the first time that our jazz quintet has performed outside of Bethel.  When the coffee house date was set, I thought it would be great to include this group to have an opportunity to perform for a different audience away from the church campus.”

The members of the group beside myself mainly only perform with the praise team at the church.  So, when this opportunity came along, I knew it would be a great chance to get out of our comfort zone. I’ve always believed that anytime an ensemble or performer has a chance to play outside of their regular spot, it can only strengthen them. When you go to a venue that is new, there is a sense of uncertainty and you don’t always know what to expect. It actually draws everyone closer because the only thing that you can rely on initially is each other.  It is natural if you are in an unfamiliar place to cling to what you are comfortable with.  So I thought from this aspect it would be a nice bonding experience for all of us.  Then, when you begin to perform you know it sounds a little different and that forces your ears to be even more focused to what is going on.  This is always my favorite part.  When you begin to hear your music and it sounds a little different than the way it usually does, it allows you to take more chances and develop more creativity.  I believe the members of the quintet did just that on Saturday.  I felt Oscar was playing more unique rhythmic patterns and whether he recognized it or not, was branching out and expanding on the parts he normally plays. The same was true with Rick. I felt his drumming had a different vibe to it as he added some neat new grooves to both songs.  Both added a nice touch to the music allowing us to really feed off of one another.  All of these experiences I believe, will help us in the future as we continue to grow and build on the success we are having. Overall, we are most happy to be able to Glorify the Lord through our music! We were very grateful to have the opportunity.

In addition to performing, I also had the privilege of running sound and lights.  I had recently purchased some new LED lighting so I was excited to be able to use them. Memorial Hall, which is used for Sunday school, the boy scouts and an occasional covered dish was transformed so nicely with the ambiance and feel of a real coffee house.

The night was awesome. Everyone had fun, loved the entertainment and enjoyed reminiscing with the trivia contest.  As I said, “It was a great night for the church”!  The mission aside, the fact that it was a miserable rainy Saturday and yet still drew a record crowd is a great sign of strength and growth occurring within Pilgrim.  As of now, there is talk of wanting to schedule another coffee house in October.  I am already looking forward to it with plans to grow the event even more.

More information regarding the Presbyterian Coffee Project of Equal Exchange and Fairly Traded Coffee can be found on the website http://equalexchange.coop/pcusa

I had never met nor had the opportunity to work with Dave Liebman. But, I was well aware of his awesome reputation and status in the jazz community. It is not everyday that you have a chance to work with a man who played with Elvin Jones and Miles Davis! Needless to say, he certainly did not disappoint. His tone on the soprano sax was like I had never heard. Smooth and warm and his jazz lines were intoxicating to the ears. He played on Coltrane favorites-Impressions, Moment’s Notice, Naima, India and also Walt’s Waltz arranged by student musician Patrick Kerssen. Each of his solos left you wanting more. My favorite was the small group song India. India is one of John Coltrane’s world jazz compositions. You didn’t need to be a jazz aficionado to appreciate how well he can play. The “feel” that he established was obvious to everyone. The small group backing him was locked in and played so well in harmony. When Dave was playing his solo, it was as if you felt transported to the area of where the song was written. A true jazz master Liebman is and also a very gentle man as well I had a chance to greet him and feel like a better musician today for the experience of playing with him. He is joining us again for a performance in May and I am very much looking forward to it again.

I have had the joy of working with Neil Wetzel for several years and I am always impressed with him as a leader. He has a strong rapport with the students and mixes in humor and a great deal of energy to instruct and educate. Whenever I have played in the big band, his concerts always feature an eclectic music spanning several generations. He really does a great job in exposing the band to all styles of swing and jazz. It is not just about what is most current and popular on the collegiate level. It is to educate his students on the styles so they can be able to pass it on one day when they are band directors. The energy and confidence he has a director transferred very nicely to the band as they played with a sense of pride and determination throughout the night.

Over the past several years, the Moravian Jazz program has really grown. With a great faculty and cooperation with the Pennsylvania Jazz Collective (www.pajazzcollective.org), it is no wonder why the big band keeps reaching new levels.

In addition to this concert, I am excited to be joining the band again for two more great shows. On April 30th, we will be playing from 5-8pm at the Deer Head Inn in Stroudsburg, Pa. It is a great opportunity to play at one of the most historic jazz clubs in the country. We will also be playing on Sunday, May 7th for the Allentown Jazz Fest from 3-4:30pm at the Zion UCC “Liberty Bell” Church. (www.allentownjazzfest.org) This concert will again feature Dave Liebman.

I am happy to be working with Neil and his band. It is always great to get a chance to play with a group of very talented students. If you are in the area for the upcoming 2 dates, and have a chance to stop by, you won’t be disappointed.

More about Vince Pettinelli orchestra