“I highly recommend Jon Ailabouni for synod assemblies, worship, or any event where you want to experience the depth of jazz improvisation woven together with grace-filled Lutheran theology, calls to justice and love for all humanity, and simply amazing music to get toes tapping, bodies dancing, and people singing with joy. ”
jazz Music and christian life
Whether it's a "blues service" focused on the Psalms of lament or a joyful New Orleans-style rendition of "We Are Walking In The Light of God", jazz music moves the body and the Spirit, transforming the experience in worship for all!
consultation
My approach to jazz in worship...
is customized for the setting in which it takes place.
is integrated with the scripture and theme for the day.
emerges from dialogue with the pastors and worship leaders.
values congregational singing by using jazz arrangements of familiar hymns and easy-to-learn jazz liturgy settings.
features instrumental pieces (prelude, offering, and postlude) written by jazz icons such as Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams, Melba Liston, and John Coltrane.
facilitates worship using musicians from the congregation or an ensemble of professional jazz artists.
provides bulletin language to contextualize and humanize the music and intersect with racial justice ministries.
If you are interested in my hymn arrangements, jazz liturgy setting, or a consultation regarding jazz in worship please contact me.
Follow this link to an article in Living Lutheran magazine about my work.
“Jon Ailabouni is not only a gifted musician, but he has a deep sense of spirituality which manifests itself in honoring the roots of the music he’s bringing forward, providing context, and writing songs that bring both joy and healing. He has a gentleness in his servant leadership in developing the musicians who work with him.”
The Spirit is Moving: A Jazz Liturgy of Renewal
The Spirit is Moving: A Jazz Liturgy of Renewal is my original setting of the traditional mass. It includes a “Kyrie”, “Glory to God”, “Psalm Setting”, “Gospel Acclamation”, “Great Thanksgiving”, “Sanctus”, and “Lamb of God”. All set to grooves that range from Modern Jazz to Swing and Afro-Cuban to Boogaloo. Sometimes the music is contemplative and other times it's a dance party.
I come from a Lutheran (ELCA) background where this traditional liturgy plays an important role. My goal in this setting is to create music that facilitates congregational singing, feels like home to jazz musicians, is accessible to music leaders (all piano and bass parts are fully notated), and creates a natural connection point for racial justice ministries.
Moved by the Spirit: A Jazz Liturgy Setting is available NOW via email and will be ready to purchase on my website in 2024! For more information visit this page.
ARRANGEMENTS
The following are selected from my collection of 50+ hymn arrangements for congregation, piano, bass, drum set, trumpet, and tenor saxophone. These works and others are available on request. More information about arrangements here.
All Glory Laud and Honor
Amazing Grace
Ar Hyd Y Nos (Go My Children)
Be Thou My Vision (Slane)
Bunessan (Morning Has Broken)
Come, We That Love the Lord (Marching to Zion)
The Doxology (Old 100th)
For The Beauty of the Earth
Forgive Our Sins
Go Tell it On The Mountain
God Whose Almighty Word (Italian Hymn)
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Greensleeves (What Child Is This)
Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer (Cwm Rhonda)
Guide My Feet
Hanover (Rejoice In God’s Saints)
He’s Got The Whole World
How Great Thou Art
I Want Jesus To Walk With Me
Jesus Is A Rock
Lift Every Voice And Sing
Lord Revive Us (There’s A Wideness in God’s Mercy)
Love Has Come (Bring a Torch)
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Kingsfold (I Heard The Voice of Jesus Say)
Mary Had a Baby
My Lord What A Morning
My Song Is Love Unknown
Nettleton (Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing)
Now All The Vault of Heaven Resounds (Lasst Uns Erfreuen)
Now Thank We All Our God
Now The Green Blade Rises (Noel Nouvelet)
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Come O Come Emmanuel
O Waly Waly (O Blessed Spring)
Oh When The Saints Go Marching In
Savior of the Nations Come
Shall We Gather At The River
That Easter Day With Joy Was Bright
There Is A Balm In Gilead
This Little Light of Mine
Wade in the Water
We Are Marching In The Light of God (Siyahamba)
We Shall Overcome
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
What Wondrous Love Is This
““Jazz music is an audible expression of life in community. We listen to one another, build off of what we hear, and sometimes move in unexpected directions. We are more together than the sum of our individual selves. We serve each other and our creator. These attributes of Christian community are also true to jazz, so it should not surprise us that jazz is a wonderful form of worship music. We are deeply grateful for the leadership provided by Jon Ailabouni to bring jazz music into our worship at Atonement””
"Come Sunday" by Duke Ellington
Zach Bunton, violin; Jon Ailabouni, flugelhorn; Helen Ailabouni, piano; Karl Rosenberg, bass; Peter Mack, drum set
Jazz Worship in the American Context
Jazz music exists because of the lives and work of Black Americans (e.g. Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Mary Lou Williams Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, and John Coltrane). These individuals crafted innovative music in the midst of a society that dehumanized and terrorized black people. Over the course of the 20th century, jazz emerged as a powerful expression of human dignity, sophistication, and soulfulness in the face of oppression. In short, jazz is a rebuke of hate. Bringing jazz into the worship setting connects the life of the Church, through Jesus' resurrection and message of liberation and justice, with the lives of the oppressed, past and present. More on this topic and antiracist ideas for jazz in worship here.
“Jon was a fantastic collaborator with our synod assembly planning team over several months and through the event itself. He brought wisdom and cohesion. He was both clear about his contract and flexible in the moment. He hired local musicians for the jazz ensemble which was a beautiful touch. And, he is a professional musician, talented educator, loving spouse and father, plus an enthusiastic ELCA member. ”
PAST JAZZ WORSHIP Leadership
First Lutheran Church, Onalaska, WI (2023-Present)
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Decorah, IA (2019-Present)
Jazz Lessons and Carols at Luther College, Decorah, IA (2021-Present)
Mindoro Ecumenical Service, Mindoro, WI (2023-Present)
ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza, New Orleans, LA (2024)
Trinity Lutheran Church, La Crosse, WI (2023)
Holmen Lutheran Church, Holmen, WI (2023)
La Crosse Area Synod Assembly, La Crosse, WI (2023)
Glenwood Lutheran Church, Decorah, IA (2019-2021, 2023)
English Lutheran Church, La Crosse, WI (2022-2023)
Zumbro Lutheran Church, Rochester, MN (2019-2023)
Northeastern Iowa Synod Assembly, Waverly, IA (2022)
Luther College - College Ministries, Decorah, IA (2010-2021)
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Rochester, MN (2021)
Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Barrington, IL (2010-2021)
Grace Lutheran Church, La Grange, IL (2018-2019)
Decorah Unitarian Universalist, Decorah, IA (2019)
New Life Lutheran Church, Dripping Springs, TX (2018)
Bethany Lutheran Church, Cherry Hills, CO (2016)
Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, IL (2015)
St. John's Lutheran Church, Eau Claire, WI (2013)