Welcome to “Jazz Night in DC,” where the stage is a sanctuary in more ways than one. The weekly event, which for over 20 years has attracted some of the area’s best musicians, takes place at a church where admission is just $5. It started with two men — a Presbyterian pastor and a larger-than-life community organizer, former pro football player, and jazz singer — whose missions aligned. One wanted his church to connect with the heritage of its neighborhood, which had been largely demolished as one of the country’s first major urban renewal projects. The other wanted to preserve a rich local musical tradition - rooted in hometown greats like Duke Ellington, Shirley Horn and Bo Diddley - as many area jazz venues vanished. As the neighborhood experiences another transition, the community of jazz congregants keep the music playing. Through verite footage, “Jazz Night” gives viewers a front row seat to Friday night.

For more information on “Jazz Night in DC” visit: www.westminsterdc.org/jazz.html

Jazz Night was made possible by HumanitiesDC, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The statements, conclusions, and views presented in the film do not necessarily represent the views of HumanitiesDC.