NYC’s unique jazz prayer service, Sundays at 5 since 1965. All are welcome. Free to attend!

ABOUT JIM RIDL (piano)

Jim Ridl is a New York City jazz pianist, composer, teacher, and band leader. Jim performs worldwide with a variety of jazz artists, including The Joe Locke Quartet, The Dave Liebman Big Band, The Paul Jost Quartet, and the Mingus Big Band.

He has toured with the U.S. State Department American Music Abroad program, performing in Russia, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Slovenia and Malta. For five years, until its recent closing, he had a residency at the internationally known jazz club, The 55 Bar, where he and his quartet performed his original compositions.

As a composer and leader, Jim has released seven recordings, most recently, Door in a Field,Volume 2. From 1994 – 2004, Jim performed with jazz guitar legend Pat Martino, receiving critically acclaimed reviews of performances around the world, and producing four outstanding recordings: Interchange, Night Wings, The Maker, and Nexus.

ABOUT PAUL JOST (voice)

When describing the unique vocalist and arranger Paul Jost, two words come to mind “passionate storyteller”. Paul is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger but it is his work as a vocalist that makes him a standout. Both critics and contemporaries alike say he is one of the best male jazz vocalists since Mark Murphy.

Paul has performed worldwide with recent tours in Asia and Europe. Back home in the U.S, Paul is making his mark in New York with an ongoing residency at the internationally acclaimed jazz club 55 Bar, a two-month stint in 2017 at SMOKE performing with Orrin Evans, guest appearances with vibraphonist Joe Locke at Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club at the Lincoln Center in April 2018 and performances at such popular clubs as Mezzrow, Jazz at Kitano’s and more. He can be seen regularly on Festival stages including recent performances at Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, Exit Zero Jazz Festival and the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival.

After a long career as an instrumentalist and sideman having recorded and performed with Billy Eckstine, Mark Murphy, Dr. John, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joe Farrell, Ron Carter, Ann Hampton Calloway, Sylvia Sims and George Mesterhazy to name just a few, Paul launched his solo vocal career in 2014 with the release of his debut vocal album “Breaking Through”. Included in that album is “Book Faded Brown,” a composition he wrote that was recorded by The Band, Rick Danko and Carl Perkins.

In 2015, in honor of the 40th Anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run”, Paul was commissioned by Michael Kline of Exit Zero Jazz Festival to interpret this iconic album in Jazz and headline at the festival. This performance was so well received that in 2016 he recorded it live at The Bitter End in New York.

With his reputation as a vocalist growing, Paul was recently showcased on PBS-TV in a profile feature in the Friday Arts series titled “Finding Your Voice”.

Paul’s follow-up release to “Breaking Through” titled “Simple Life” features his quartet Jim Ridl-piano, Dean Johnson-bass and Tim Horner-drums. Joe Locke is the special guest on a number of tracks.

A frequent guest lecturer and teacher presenting classes on “Finding Your Voice”, Paul’s outgoing personality works with all ages – from elementary through adults. He has worked at such colleges as the University of the Arts, West Chester University, Stockton College and others. He also leads an interactive scatting and body percussion workshop. A high school music teacher recently said, “Paul got our students tapping, clapping, singing and scatting and, in the process, believing in themselves and their unique place in the world. He’s phenomenal, inspirational.”