Howard McGhee and Saint Peter's

Article and photographs courtesy of Black American Vol. 14, 1970. Howard McGhee, left.

For this Black History Month, we're shedding light on foundational members and influential Jazz musicians of Saint Peter's ministries and history.

Howard McGhee was considered one of the finest trumpeters in jazz by the late 40s. As described by Lewis K. McMillan, Jr. in the featured article:

"Jazzdom's Giants, to the little known musicians will not hesitate to put off a gig to make it to Saint Peter's."

McGhee worked with Pastor John Garcia Gensel in the first year of Jazz Vespers as one of Saint Peter's Jazz Ministry’s most active members, and performed at the legendary “All Night Soul,” as photographed above. Jazz Vespers, a program naturally developed out of the needs of Pastor Gensel’s “Night Ministry,” began in the jazz clubs of Manhattan. Jazz Vespers was specifically created so jazz musicians working through the night, missing the traditional Sunday morning service, could still congregate and worship in an evening service, presenting jazz music in a sacred setting.

McGhee and his wife composed special worship compositions in 1966, featuring four trumpets and an organ, played by McGhee, Joe Newman, Clark Terry, and Frank Williams with Kenneth A. Hendron, the regular organist at Advent Lutheran church.

The 16-piece Howard McGhee-Jazz Ministry Band, in addition to playing Jazz Vespers, performed the first Easter jazz performance in 1966 at Saint Peter’s. During the Jazz Ministry’s early years, McGhee’s band was the regular performer for Christmas and Easter.

Read a sample of the article from Saint Peter’s archives, including more on McGhee, Pastor Gensel, and their contemporaries below.

Courtesy of Black American Vol. 14, 1970.