Jazz concert rings in Merton's 101st birthday

A crowd came out to celebrate what would have been Thomas Merton’s 101st birthday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in New Albany on Sunday with a jazz concert dedicated to the Trappist monk and author.

Vibraphonist Dick Sisto, a friend of Merton’s, presented “A Merton Birthday Celebration:  Memories and Music for a Spiritual Friend." The performance included music he composed for the documentary “Soul Searching: The Journey of Thomas Merton."

Sisto was joined for the 90-minute concert by jazz guitarist Father John Moulder of St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in Chicago. He has performed nationally and internationally at festivals, clubs, and concert halls.

“I’m certainly a lover of his (Merton’s) works,” he said.  “On my next album, 'Earthborn Tales of Soul and Spirit,' there’s a suite devoted to him called 'Journey to the East.'"

Merton, a monk of Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Bardstown, Kentucky, wrote poetry, personal journals and social critiques. His writings on peace, justice and ecumenism are still widely read.

Born in France in 1915, he died suddenly at a monastic conference in Thailand in late 1968.

“I became friends with him and we’d meet at Gethsemani,” Sisto said.  “He really influenced me spiritually.  We’d also have parties on the lake with friends.  I was beer runner.”

Sisto is an internationally known musician who, as the host of two long-running public radio shows for the Louisville 's NPR affiliate WFPL, has interviewed and performed with more than a few jazz greats.

“Not everyone knows, but Merton was a big jazz fan.  He liked jazz before his awakening.  He was a bad boy,” Sisto said.  “In the 60s I would play at a club, 118 Washington, and he would come in.”

Sisto and Moulder teamed up in Chicago for a Merton concert shortly before Kautz contacted Sisto about performing at St. Paul’s.  “That’s the way Merton works,” Sisto joked.  “He’s gotten me so many gigs.”

Moulder also serves as Chaplain to the Arts for the Archdiocese in Indianapolis.  “We’re trying to reclaim the role of the church which ahs traditionally been a patron of the arts,” he said.

He met with St. Paul’s pastor Rick Kautz and members of the church’s Arts Council, which staged the event, earlier in the day.  “We talked about how we can deepen the connection between the arts and spirituality in southern Indiana,” Kautz said.

St. Paul’s Art Council has worked to forge those connections within the community for three years.  They also host an Art in the Parlor series of exhibits and a Parlor Stories literary and performing arts series.

“This is really our first music performance,” said council member Bill Strauss.  “We’ll be doing a Valentine’s Cabaret on February 13 with eight singers.”

Other art show proceeds, including those from the church’s wildly popular Art on Parish Green juried art show every June, benefit either the weekly soup kitchen or the new pet pantry program.

But the Merton event funds are earmarked for restoration of the church’s pipe organ.  “Our organ has not been touched since the 1960’s,” Kautz said.  “We have $16,000 in the organ fund, but it will take $32,000.”

For more information on the church or upcoming Arts Council events visit stpaulna.org or find them on Facebook as St. Paul’s Arts Council.