For over 50 years, Saint Peter’s has been a spiritual and community center for jazz artists. At a time when so many find themselves at a distance, we come together here to connect, reflect and find healing and strength, united by a love for this music that has always been defined by the moment. Together with Crescendo and Soapbox Gallery, Saint Peter's presents the "In This Moment" concert series, designed to lift up our incredible jazz community and the musicians who pour their hearts into it.
On May 1st, join us for the "In This Moment" concert featuring Rudy Royston and a new iteration of Flatbed Buggy.
Broadcasting Saturday, May 1 at 2pm (ET) on Facebook and YouTube.
Join us on Zoom at 1:30 pm for a watch party with Rudy and Ike Sturm.
About Rudy Royston
Rudy Royston has honed a thoroughly engaging voice as a composer and bandleader with his compelling debut 303 (2014) and the raw and bracing trio follow-up Rise of Orion (2016). Flatbed Buggy, his third album as a bandleader, is rich in tonal contrast and mood yet steeped in the supple, enduring swing and groove that has driven his writing and playing from the start. "In This Moment" on May 1st, offers a new iteration of Flatbed Buggy, drawing us inward and granting us a curious and healing set of music from the visionary bandleader and composer.
Rudy Royston's Flatbed Buggy is comprised of world-class improvisers, many of whom have collaborated and performed at Saint Peter's for many years. Rudy brings a calm, yet powerful spirit to his chair as drummer and bandleader and first designed his Flatbed Buggy project for All Nite Soul at Saint Peter's. The chamber-like ensemble is incredibly unique and sounds fantastic in our sanctuary. We hope to have them back with us in person very soon!
Royston leads a compact, almost chamber-like quintet featuring Gary Versace (accordion), John Ellis (woodwinds), Christopher Hoffman (cello) and Joe Martin (bass). We are grateful to our friends at the Soapbox Gallery in Brooklyn for their hospitality and for hosting this beautiful concert.
Personnel:
Rudy Royston, drums
John Ellis, bass clarinet, saxes
Joel Ross, vibraphone
Christopher Hoffman, cello
Joe Martin, bass
About In This Moment
Welcome to In This Moment, concerts hosted by Saint Peter’s Church in NYC, designed to lift up our incredible jazz community and the musicians who pour their hearts into it. At a time when so many find themselves at a distance, we come together here to connect, reflect and find healing and strength, united by a love for this music that has always been defined by the moment.
For over 50 years, Saint Peter’s has been a spiritual and community center for jazz artists. I’m grateful for our friends at the Crescendo Network for making this series possible and for Saint Peter’s for hosting these performances.
Each artist was asked to create a set of music that speaks to their own perspective in the midst of the illness, racial injustice and all that surrounds us. We hope to lift up and sustain these artists and what they bring to each of us, offering our communities creative and inspiring ways to meet.
Thanks for joining us. Hope you enjoy the concert!
Ike Sturm, Director of Music, Jazz
“In This Moment” is made possible by a grant from crescendo.org.