Jazz @ Emmanuel – Rhythm – September 13

“RHYTHM”

Our first Jazz Service of the Season will usher in the Theme for the 2026 Season
THE LANGUAGE OF JAZZ with a focus on “RHYTHM.”
Featuring Pamela Johnson as Music Director
Howie Alexander on Piano

See the Post with the full line-up for Season 35 and more about “The Language of Jazz.”.

What is Rhythm Anyway?

“Rhythm is a strong, regular, repeated pattern of sound, movement, or time.” [1]

We associate rhythm with music, and appropriately. But the whole of creation is full of rhythm. We are blessed by an ordered universe. With earth’s revolutions come morning and evening; moon cycles give us months; earth’s orbit blesses us with seasons and years. The days of the week, months and seasons give rhythm to our lives. Day and night, work and rest, life and death, even the rhythm of our breath, are all ordained by God to ground us in the present and in awareness of our sacred place in eternity.

Rhythm and Worship

The rhythm of creation helps us order our lives spiritually as well. These repeated patterns help align our lives with God’s divine order and help us stick to our spiritual practices, such as prayer, gratitude, Sabbath and service.

In the Episcopal Church we honor the natural rhythm of the universe and the history of God intervening in the lives of his people over the centuries. We do this through “rituals” and “liturgy” that add rhythm to our quest for meaning, purpose and connection with the divine.

Thinking again of rhythm as a “strong, regular, repeated pattern of sound, movement, or time,” the rhythm of ritual reminds and re-connects us to God’s faithfulness and purpose over and over. Our rituals allow us to re-enact and “remember” these special events so that they may become more real and accessible for our comfort and trust.

Our Liturgical Calendar helps put us in sync with the rhythms of this history of God’s faithfulness to his people. The Eucharist, Advent, Lent, Sunday Liturgy especially, and music, keep us “in tune” with the continued Love of God in Christ.

Rhythm is a gift that keeps on giving.
Without rhythm, how are we to sing and dance?

In music, rhythm is the systematic arrangement or organization of sounds, by duration and rests and is accompanied by a steady beat. FUN!

Key Components of Rhythm
Beat (Pulse): The steady, repeating tick or pulse that you naturally tap your foot to.
Duration: How long or short a specific musical note or sound lasts.
Rest: A planned period of silence or quiet within the music.
Tempo: The speed of the beat, measured in beats per minute.
Meter: How individual beats are grouped into repeating measures or bars (such as in 4/4 time). [1, 2, 3, 4]

The well known song, “I’ve Got Rhythm” was written by George Gershwin and his brother, lyricist, Ira Gershwin, for the 1930 Broadway musical Girl Crazy. [1, 2] The song was made famous by Ethel Merman, who performed it in her sensational Broadway debut in Girl Crazy and launched her legendary career. [1]

“I’ve Got Rhythm,” officially titled, “Who Could Ask for Anything More?” was part of the score of An American in Paris, 1951, with Gene Kelly. [1]

Rhythm and Jazz

The chord progression, in “I’ve Got Rhythm,” known as “rhythm changes“, is the foundation for many other jazz tunes such as Charlie Parker‘s and Dizzy Gillespie‘s bebop standard “Anthropology (Thrivin’ on a Riff)”. Its infectious syncopated melody and revolutionary chord progression of rhythm changes became the most foundational template for jazz improvisation next to the 12-bar blues. [1]

The song was re-visited by the likes of many celebrated Jazz voices and musicians:
Ella Fitzgerald
Judy Garland
Jodi Benson
Louis Armstrong
Charlie Parker
Sammy Davis Jr.
Sonny Stitt
Tommy Dorsey
Lena Horne
Bobby Darin
…to name a few!

More recently it has been recorded by Tony Bennett in 1995, and Tony and Diana Krall in 2008.

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The world of music is a gloriously complex place! We are privileged to enjoy so much diverse and excellent music performed by exceptional musicians, over the airways, on recordings and in person. Jazz is a genre with a lot of complexity and appeal. We at Emmanuel are blessed to be able to bring live, free Jazz to you once a month. Enjoy!

RHYTHM, who could ask for anything more?

As only Jazz @ Emmanuel can.

As always, the second Sunday of the Month 
5:00 pm in the Sanctuary.

Jazz @ Emmanuel is supported in part by Jazz Enthusiasts and Worshippers like YOU and WRCT 88.3 FM.
Thank you for your generous donations. 
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