St. Ambrose Church Anniversary Jazz Concert

The NCCU Jazz Collective and the Brandon Mitchell Quartet are playing St. Ambrose Episcopal Church on Saturday, October 17, as part of the church's anniversary celebration. It's a double bill of live jazz on a Saturday night, and the music is just one part of what the evening is marking.

St. Ambrose is a historically African American Episcopal church in Raleigh, rooted in the legacy of African and African American Episcopal saints. Its patron is Bishop Ambrose of Milan, who lived in Italy in the 300s and earned the nickname 'the honeyed tongue preacher' for his preaching. Bees and the beehive have been symbols of Saint Ambrose ever since, and that imagery runs through the church's work. This concert is part of the parish celebrating 60 years in the Rochester Heights neighborhood.

It's also a fundraiser: the proceeds go toward the Honey from the Rock Capital Campaign. The church also runs the Hive for Hope and Healing grant program, which provides accessible, culturally affirming mental health counseling and psychoeducation to Black residents of Wake County. A reception follows the music, so there's time to stick around after the last set.

The concert starts at 6 PM at 813 Darby Street in Raleigh. Tickets are $60 per adult, and children under 17 get in free.