What would you like to know about St. Joan of Arc? Do you have a story about our parish or of general interest that you think others would like to hear? For story ideas, contact Jeff Rholl, jeff@stjoan.com.

Michele Jansen is a free-lance audio/video producer and multimedia project manager, who also works as an on-call announcer for KBEM-FM, Jazz 88. In other words, a jack-of-all-trades for the new millennium. She and her family, husband John, teenagers Mick and Lauren, have been members of St. Joan of Arc for 12 years. She is also a happy member of the choir, and has volunteered for various activities at St. Joan's including the Faith Formation Advisory Board. Michelle can be reached at mtj333@yahoo.com.

If recently you’ve been in your car on the way home from the St. Joan of Arc 9 a.m Mass or on your way to the 11 a.m., you might have tuned in the left half of the dial and caught a show on jazz and its connection with spirituality. This show, “Jazz and the Spirit”, heard locally on KBEM (88.5 FM), happens to have a St. Joan of Arc connection. Its co-host and co-creator, Michele McKenzie Jansen, is an SJA parishioner, choir member and web team member.

As a jazz lover, Michele always felt a spiritual connection with the genre, often getting an inspiring lift from the music and the interaction of musicians. While in her role as audio engineer and on-call announcer for KBEM, she began to conceive the idea of a program exposing listeners to jazz based hymns and other sacred music. In a true serendipity of “great minds think alike”, she was soon introduced to local jazz musician Steve Blons…who just happened to have the same idea for a radio show. Pooling together Michele’s voice talent and radio production experience with Steve’s musical expertise, “Jazz and the Spirit” hit the airwaves in October of 2004.

“Jazz and the Spirit” evolved into more than just a show which played spiritual jazz. Michele and Steve also hosted musicians talking about their concept of jazz and spirituality. A major coup for the program was an interview with jazz legend Dave Brubeck, who has written many sacred choral musical pieces (later on in the season, Brubeck’s son Chris guested on the show). The program has also hosted local talents such as Debbie Duncan.

“Jazz and the Spirit” is supported by a group known as the Cecelia Jazz Society, a new non-profit organization dedicated to promoting jazz in liturgical settings and to exploring the connections between jazz and spirituality. Beginning as a small group including Michele, Steve, Ray Spack and others, the group realized it needed to expand by offering member benefits and reaching out to the larger jazz community. The Cecelia Society is actively seeking grants to carry out its plans to serve as a resource for churches with jazz liturgies and partner with other churches to commission jazz works for use in worship.

Michele says that doing the show has tested her faith. “Jazz and the Spirit” is a labor of love for her and Steve…they do not receive pay and retain full ownership of the program. Yet, doing something they both believe in hasn’t been without its roadblocks. There were technical issues with limited equipment (Michele hopes to do most of the production from home in the future), juggling show production time with day job schedules, and struggling to find sponsorship for the program. Although the reaction Michele occasionally receives from listeners about the show has been positive, she often wonders if it’s good enough and if it will reach a significant audience.

“Jazz and the Spirit” shifted its time slot in July…it’s now heard Sundays at 8 p.m. and Thursdays at 7 p.m. on KBEM (www.jazz88fm.com). Learn more about “Jazz and the Spirit at www.jazzandthespirit.com and the Cecelia Jazz Society at www.ceceliajazz.org. If you like what you hear on this innovative program, tell Michele…and tell others!

Writer, speaker, consultant, administrative professional, Wendy Vickers, has been an active supporter and encourager of local musicians in the Twin Cities music community for several years. Her online newsletter on local coffeehouse performers and other music-related activities can be found on her website at www.wendyv.com .

Graphics courtesy of www.jazzandthespirit.com.