Get ready to be uplifted by the inspirational messages and powerful South African Jazz Music in a powerful Mt Zion AME Church Jazz and Jesus service. This is a very unique opportunity to experience a worldwide fusion of jazz, faith and Mental Health in a spiritually enriching environment. Don't miss out on this enjoyable Jesus and Jazz Performance featuring South African JCFI Music Ensemble feat Bassist Sobongile Buda.
Joining us will be Vocalist Lynette Sheard with Mental Health message delivered by Laverne Williams.
Get ready to be uplifted by the inspirational messages and powerful South African Jazz Music in a powerful Mt Zion AME Church Jazz and Jesus service. This is a very unique opportunity to experience a worldwide fusion of jazz , faith and Mental Health in a spiritually enriching environment. Don’t miss out on this enjoyable Jesus and Jazz Performance.
Sibongile Buda
Sibongile Buda, known as Ms Buda Bass, is a Mamelodi born, South African performing artist. She is a bassist, composer, music teacher, band conductor, founder and programme Director. Her passion for music is traced back to her grandmother who plays an African drum in church; her love for music emanates from growing up in a musical background following on her grandmother’s footsteps. This lead to a discovery of a music programme known as Committed Artist for Cultural Advancement (CAFCA) through childhood friends.
Sibongile is currently working as a music teacher at CAFCA, which focuses on enhancement of music skills to children from disadvantaged communities. She is a founder and programme director of a female lead organisation – Jazz Camp for Female Instrumentalists Mamelodi (JCFI) – the purpose of which is to groom and empower females with artistic skills from an early age and to provide a platform for female artists to showcase their talent.
Sibongile’s first concert was in 2005 at Enoch Sontonga hall at Unisa. She subsequently participated in a cultural showcase in Delft (Netherlands) with the CAFCA Ensemble in 2007, in 2008 she performed with CAFCA Music Ensemble in Beijing and in 2009 at the Molde Jazz Festival with JCFI Norway band. In 2011 she performed at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) conference in New Orleans, LA, USA and participated at the SAJE conference at University of Cape Town (UCT). She attended and participated at the International Society of Bassists (ISB) held at San Francisco State University in June 2011, and participated at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival.
In 2013 she performed at at the SAJE and in 2015 at the Maru a pula festival in Botswana. She recorded an All-female album in 2016 called Mother Tongue. In 2017 she participated in a panel discussion at JEN conference in New Orleans & performed at the Jazz at the Lincoln Centre an all-female Globe jam.
Pastor Eyesha Marable – Mt Zion AME Church.
Rev Eyesha K. Marable is trained dancer, ordained Itinerate Elder, Pastor, Mt. Zion AME Church, Milburn, NJ and Coordinator of Dance for the 1st Episcopal District.
Eyesha K. Marable is trained dancer, ordained Itinerate Elder, Pastor, Mt. Zion AME Church, Millburn, NJ and Coordinator of Dance for the 1st Episcopal District, under the leadership of Bishop Gregory Ingram. Rev. Eye earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and Spanish, a Master of Science Degree in Non-Profit Management, a Post-Graduate Certification in Organizational Development and a Master of Divinity. Through her 14 years of service at the Greater Allen Cathedral of New York under the leadership of Rev. Drs. Floyd H. and Elaine M. Flake as associate minister, asst. dance director for Allen Liturgical Dance Ministry and co-chair for the bi-annual worship conference, Rev. Eyesha founded the National Liturgical Dance Network (NLDN). This dance preacher gathers, trains, supports and unites with churches and worshipers, worldwide. She is the Director of Community Engagement for NJPAC and is blessed to worship in dance with her husband, Edward B. Marable, Jr, son, Judah and Honor Marable.
Lynette Sheard – Vocalist
Lynette Sheard – Vocalist. “We are kicking off this series with a gifted performer on the local live music scene who always comes out and jams all around town,” said Burrus. “Lynette is well respected on the scene and has performed with numerous performers around our towns. Lynette Sheard is a gifted versatile vocalist with a five octave range. She is an actor, producer and director. Her performances have been acknowledged in numerous publications including the New York Times, The Record and the Chronicle. The Star Ledger and many of her fans proclaims that “her voice reaches deep into one’s soul and finds a soft spot.” She performs Jazz, R&B, Gospel, Soul and Pop music throughout the tri-state area and beyond.”
Theater credits include principal roles in: Dream Girls, Smokey Joes Café, Ragtime, Swing, Aida, and an encore performance as Lena Younger Mama in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. She has received countless awards and recognition for her musical service work with children, the elderly and veterans. She is a founding member of the Guiding Stars, a Medical Missions group of professional performers who volunteer to entertain veterans and children. Her performances have raised thousands for Hurricane Katrina Survivors, Haitian Relief efforts, The Red Cross and numerous other local charities. Recently, as a board member for Pleasant Valley Productions. she has helped produced a number of successful events at Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center (OSPAC) in West Orange, NJ.
Laverne S. Williams, CSW, Director of PEWS and Member of the MHANJ’s Community Education Team
Summary of her key accomplishments include:
Leading pioneering work for faith-based communities and the public at large, to help break the stigma of mental illness so that people will seek the help they need for mental health challenges.
Spearheading and serving as pioneering founder of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s Promoting Emotional Wellness and Spirituality (PEWS) Program in 2005 and serving as Program Director since its inception.
Becoming a Certified Social Worker (CSW) and using her training and spiritual beliefs to combine behavioral health with theology.
Reaching thousands of clergy members and helping to change the perception of mental illness in a broad array of spiritual communities.
Educating thousands of individuals on mental health awareness topics, with a special emphasis on seniors, people who tend to hoard, and those experiencing grief.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a new internet-based weekly show, Thankful Tuesdays, which provided resources for many, and an invaluable outlet to interact and discuss challenges at a critical time of racial and spiritual strife.
Jesus and Jazz
Join us on the 4th Sunday of every month for an inspiring Jesus and Jazz Session led by Pastor Eyesha Marable. Jesus and Jazz is great music, community connections, melodies, meditative moments, and messages. We are located at 56 Church Street, Millburn, NJ 07041, and we are looking forward to seeing you there.
Space is limited so please let us know if we should expect you by reserving your space via email at mtzionamemillburn@gmail.com or Eventbrite link,
Refreshments will be available immediately following the service by Pangea Caterers.
Free – Open to All
This is a unique opportunity to experience the fusion of faith and jazz in a spiritually enriching environment. Don’t miss out on this enjoyable Jesus and Jazz Performance.
Jesus and Jazz Sessions are held monthly on the 4th Sunday of the Month and are curated by
Gregory Burrus is a local live music producer, promoter, event planner, and community partner. He combines his extensive corporate business and technology expertise with his love of live music, making it his mission to keep the music alive by booking bands for private and public events1. Gregory spends his time as a photojournalist, live music producer, videographer, arts and entertainment writer, blogger, business reviewer, and community events reporter. He develops, manages, promotes, and documents live music programs in the Greater New Jersey and New York Area2. His work includes organizing outdoor live music events, such as Clements Place Jazz for the Rutgers University Institute of Jazz Studies, NJPAC Community Engagement, NJPAC Jazz Advisory Team, Mt Zion AME Jazz and Jesus, Jazzy Nights Live Music performances, Live Music entertainment for Orange’s Farmers Market, Downtown Cranford Summer and Autumn Live Music Series, Downtown South Orange, 24 Hours of Music Jamboree Festival, South Orange Farmers Market Jazz Jam, etc. Gregory Burrus also books bands for various local and private venues, contributing to the vibrant music scene in the Northern NJ area.
