Around the turn of the century (yes, I know that makes me sound old!), Ed Bacon told me about a new parishioner to All Saints, Bill Cunliffe — a world-class jazz musician. Not living in that world, I hadn’t heard of Bill (or any other famous living jazz musicians), but we met and discussed his willingness to help lead a jazz eucharist some Sunday morning. This initial encounter led to a long collaboration in which Bill would compose new choral works in the jazz idiom and we would periodically offer jazz eucharists on Sunday mornings.

About 2001, we discussed his becoming our composer-in-residence (a volunteer position). He has composed so many wonderful choral pieces over the years, greatly enhancing the choral and congregation repertoire of All Saints, and our recording of most of these works — Transformation — is a fabulous collection. I’m so grateful for our work together over these many years.