The Day: A Volunteer Opportunity, Classical Chamber Music and Jazz Vespers

The mild weather leaves us thinking it feels more like spring than winter. Do you like the warmth, or are you hoping for more wintry weather, locals? (Photo by Francisco Daum)

Good morning, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.

Yesterday was the first day of winter, but it sure didn’t feel like it with temperatures close to 70 degrees. How did you spend the warm weekend, locals? Today, you can expect another mild day for this time of year – with high temperatures in the mid-50s, according to the National Weather Service – but don’t forget your umbrella, because rain is in the forecast.

The Queen of All Saints Church will provide an opportunity for those who would like to serve the less fortunate this holiday season. A group from the church will stay overnight and provide meals at the Sacred Heart Men’s Shelter – 39 Adelphi Street between Park and Flushing Avenues – today, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Email qasmensshelter@gmail.com if you’re interested in volunteering.
Charanga Soleil, a classical chamber ensemble that originated in Haiti, will perform at the Brooklyn Academy of Music‘s Peter Jay Sharp building – 130 Lafayette Avenue between Ashland Place and Saint Felix Street – on Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m. Come early for a happy hour from 6 to 8 p.m. Each member of Charanga Soleil brings distinct cultural sounds to the mix: Cuban salsa, Congolese rumba-soukous, Haitian compas, Puerto Rican plena-bomba and the beats of the African Diaspora, according to the ensemble’s website. Admission is free.
If you didn’t get your fill of music from Charanga Soleil’s performance, be sure to stop by the Holiday Jazz Vespers held at Emmanuel Baptist Church – 279 Lafayette Avenue between Washington Avenue and Saint James Place – on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. The Eric Person Big Band will perform pieces from Person’s latest release, “Thoughts on God.” The band, with 11 pieces, is larger than any ensemble previously featured at Jazz Vespers, according to a press release. Past Jazz Vespers performers have included Antonio Hart, Jason Marshall and Tom Guarna, among others. These events usually take place on the fifth Sundays of the month, but occasionally dates are added in between. “This is an outstanding opportunity for everyone from our New York City community to worship in a relaxed setting and find God in the spacious freedom of jazz music,” Reverend Anthony L. Trufant, Emmanuel Baptist Church’s senior pastor, said on the church’s website. “It is a musical tradition that gives us a voice to the hopes, dreams, frustrations and pain that expresses the human experience. Simply put, jazz is the musical incense that collects and carries the prayers of a people.” For more information about Jazz Vespers, call (718) 622-1107 or (347) 460-8179.