Richard Baratta Quartet Brings High‑Energy Jazz to Millburn’s Jesus & Jazz Series on July 26

Millburn, NJ — The Jesus & Jazz series at Mt. Zion AME Church will welcome the Richard Baratta Quartet on Sunday, July 26, offering Millburn residents a chance to experience one of the region’s most seasoned and hard‑swinging jazz drummers in an intimate community setting.

The program, produced by Gregory Burrus Productions, blends live jazz with spiritual reflection and wellness, creating a Sunday morning gathering that attracts both music lovers and neighbors looking for uplifting community connection.

A Drummer With Deep NYC Jazz Roots

Richard Baratta’s jazz story stretches back to the 1970s, when he emerged on the New York scene performing with major artists including John Stubblefield, Joe Ford, Frank Strozier, Hal Galper, Mike Richmond, Saheb Sarbib, Dennis Irwin, Vernon Reid, Billy Bang, and even a one‑day hit with Hank Mobley and Johnny Hartman.

After years working in film production, Baratta returned fully to jazz in 2016 and quickly re‑established himself as a powerful modern drummer. He has since performed with Eric Alexander, Vincent Herring, Walter Blanding, Craig Handy, Marcus Printup, Bruce Harris, Gerald Cannon, Bill O’Connell, Emmett Cohen, Jeb Patton, Steve Ash, Chris Pattishall, Mike LeDonne, Ray Gallon, Dave Kikoski, and many others.

His recent albums on Savant Records — including Music in Film: The Reel Deal, Music in Film: The Sequel, and Another Kind of Bird — highlight his crisp rhythmic articulation and deep command of straight‑ahead jazz.

Quartet Members

Tomoko Ohno — Piano

Tokyo‑born pianist Tomoko Ohno studied at William Paterson University under Harold Mabern and Rufus Reid. She has performed with Jerome Richardson, Wynton Marsalis, Benny Golson, Joe Henderson, Slide Hampton, Claudio Roditi, James Spaulding, and the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Big Band, appearing at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Blue Note, Birdland, and Sweet Basil.

Patrick Gannon — Alto Saxophone

A rising New Jersey saxophonist, Patrick Gannon studied under Bill Charlap and Vincent Herring at William Paterson University. He performs throughout the region with artists including Lance Bryant, Lee Hogans, and David Gibson, bringing a strong bebop foundation and warm tone to the quartet.

Michael Goetz — Bass

Acoustic bassist Michael Goetz is known for his lyrical, grounded bass voice and appears on several recordings, including Baratta’s Another Kind of Bird. He performs widely across the jazz scene as both a leader and sideman.

Community, Spirit, and Wellness

This Jesus & Jazz program is guided by:

• Rev. Eyesha Marable — spiritual leadership
• Musical Minister Phil Bingham — worship direction
• Laverne Williams — a “Mental Health Moment” focused on emotional wellness

The series blends jazz performance with reflection and community uplift, making it one of Millburn’s most distinctive cultural offerings.

Event Details

Date: Sunday, July 26 Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Location: Mt. Zion AME Church, 54 Church Street, Millburn Tickets: Eventbrite Registration

The Jesus & Jazz series is led by a dedicated team committed to blending spiritual uplift with cultural excellence. Rev. Eyesha Marable, Associate Pastor of Mt. Zion AME Church, provides visionary leadership and community‑centered ministry that anchors the program’s mission. Musical Minister Phil Bingham shapes the worship flow and musical direction, bringing decades of experience in sacred and contemporary jazz traditions. Gregory Burrus, producer and cultural curator, oversees event coordination and artist engagement programming, drawing on his extensive background producing more than 300 live music events annually across New Jersey. Together, they create a welcoming, inspiring environment where faith, wellness, and world‑class jazz come together for the community.