Pauli Murray Credit: Photo via Carolina Digital Library and Archives/University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapels across the globe, including the American Cathedral in Paris and Duke University Chapel in North Carolina, bridge the improvisational spirit of jazz and the ancient ritual of evening vespers—and St. Petersburg gets a turn this weekend.

David Pate, arguably the most accomplished saxophonist the Bay area has ever produced, leads the meditations along with vocalist Jen Logan, and they’ll both have the late Pauli Murray on their minds.

Murray, the civil rights activist, scholar and theorist passed away on July 1, 1985, but not before living a life that saw her become the first Black woman ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church.

Rev. Janettarose Greene, Associate to the Rector at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia, is the guest preacher for this special engagement, which includes a reception afterwards.

There’s no cover for the Pauli Murray Jazz Vespers concert happening at Cathedral Church of St. Peter in St. Petersburg on Sunday, June 23.