Book of Gaia opens the Kansas City Jazz Vespers concert series Sunday

The phrase “jazz vespers” conjures images of a worship service with some rhythmic flair. But starting Sunday, January 11, and continuing on the second Sunday of each month, the First Baptist Church of Kansas City puts a new twist on that notion. The church introduces the Kansas City Jazz Vespers series with its first free (and secular, in case you were wondering) concert, featuring the KC vocal ensemble Book of Gaia. 

If you haven’t yet experienced the impressive harmonies of Gaia’s Angela Hagenbach, Pamela Baskin-Watson and Nedra Dixon, then this is your chance to stop missing out. Their distinctive voices unite for a sophisticated, pop-centric take on contemporary jazz, with original tunes joining familiar songs and some spoken word. The group brings in Karita Carter on trombone, Eddie Moore on piano, Tyrone Clark on bass and Mike Warren on drums. 

Live jazz can be hard to find on Sunday nights in KC, so fans should take comfort in the future concerts planned for the series. Mark your calendars for evenings with Hermon Mehari’s Diverse, Stan Kessler’s Sons of Brazil, and singers Molly Hammer and Millie Edwards.

Jazz Vespers, featuring Book of Gaia, takes place at the First Baptist Church of Kansas City, located at 100 West Red Bridge Road (one mile east of State Line Road, at the corner of Red Bridge Road and Wornall Road). The show starts at 6 p.m. Admission is free. For more information on the series, go here.