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Jazz for Jesus: Bob Ravenscroft Trio playing Eagle River Presbyterian Church

From left: Percussionist Rob Moore, pianist Bob Ravenscroft and bass player Dwight Kilian play a free jazz concert Saturday evening at the Eagle River Presbyterian Church in Avon. Admission is free.
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If you go ...

What: Jazz’s Bob Ravenscroft Trio in concert.

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19.

Where: Eagle River Presbyterian Church, 455 Nottingham Ranch Road, Avon.

Cost: Free.

More information: For information about Ravenscroft, go to http://www.musicservingtheword.org. For his piano building company, visit http://www.ravenscroftpianos.com. Call 970-748-0040.

AVON — Christian rocker Larry Norman asked the musical question, “Why should the Devil have all the good music?”

The Devil does not.

The Bob Ravenscroft Trio (Bob Ravenscroft, Dwight Kilian and Rob Moore) plays tonight at the Eagle River Presbyterian Church in Avon. Admission is free.



Tonight’s concert will blend familiar jazz standards, original music and the artistry of visual media artist Caleb Kilian, who becomes a virtual fourth member of the group. Caleb Kilian will create a wall full of original photography and images that reflect the music being played by the trio.

A Bob Ravenscroft Trio concert combines improvisational jazz, a spiritual influence and experimental video into a spontaneous live experience.

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“That’s fun because you never know what will happen. It’s like life,” Ravenscroft said.

Music Serving the Word

Ravenscroft not only plays piano better than almost anyone you know personally, but he also builds some of the world’s best pianos, Ravenscroft Concert Grand Pianos.

“I play one, and it’s a fine instrument. Of course, I’m biased,” he said, smiling.

Then there’s Music Serving the Word Ministries that he established. It’s not a church or a church organization, but it serves the church, performing jazz concerts in sacred spaces.

“God is very much a part of what we do and why we’re doing it,” Ravenscroft said. “Much of what we do comes from the Holy Spirit. That makes it richer and deeper, and hopefully raises the bar from the usual stuff people hear.”

Expanding the mission and scope of Music Serving the Word Ministries is music director Dwight Kilian. A gifted musician, Kilian also enjoys a growing reputation as one of the Southwest’s finest jazz bassists. His 20-year teaching experience includes jazz bass instruction and clinician work with Arizona State University, Glendale Community College, Kansas Touring Arts, Arizona All State High School Jazz and many music camps throughout the country.

Kilian was a co-founder of the Jazz for the Soul concert series at Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church. He has played with a Who’s Who of famed musicians, including Art Lande, Mark Murphy, Herbie Mann and Mose Allison.

Rob Moore

Moore brings an innovative, fresh approach to percussion, drawing from a musical depth that includes playing keyboards, guitar and reeds and singing in vocal ensembles. His career began as the drummer for Young Sounds (an all-city jazz band featuring Arizona’s brightest high school talent) and continued with a summer scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Jazzbird scholarship at Arizona State University. He counts jazz educator Chuck Marohnic and renowned percussionist Dom Moio among his mentors and lists working with legends Gunther Schuller and Doc Severinson among his credits.

Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935 and rwyrick@vaildaily.com.


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