Nevertheless: Photographs & Jazz

Featuring fine art photographs by Zach Ellis and jazz music by Greg Jarrell & Troy Conn "Nevertheless" is the title of Ellis's photography exhibit, which suggests the tension of a compelling story that is too large to be contained or expressed. This dynamic is also present in jazz music, where harmonic tension sits at the center of everything, a conjoined yearning and resolve. This is the same tension that exists at the center of the Christian story, where brokenness and lament mingle with hope and redemption. Scroll down to view the flow of the evening, which includes time to encounter the photos, an interview with the photographer, musical performances, and a light dessert. Zach Ellis is an artist whose work explores the numinous, story, and collective memory. His work is about the both/and, confronting and embracing the conundrums and contradictions that surround us all. With a camera in hand, all things become reflective surface, a mirror to the soul shining back what he hopes against hope to see more clearly. Zach resides in Somerville, Massachusetts. Greg Jarrell is a cultural organizer with QC Family Tree in the Enderly Park neighborhood of Charlotte, North Carolina. He works with words and music to impact housing and neighborhood justice issues. Jarrell writes about theology and history and co-leads Carolina Social Music Club, a popular jazz band. He and his wife, Helms, are ordained ministers and are raising two sons. Troy Conn is a guitarist who lives in Charlotte, NC. Accomplished in jazz, classical, and rock, Troy performs throughout Charlotte with a variety of singers and musicans in addition to the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. He teaches at Queens University, UNC Charlotte, Jazz Arts, and also offers private lessons. His record "Old and New" was released in 2018 and is available for purchase on iTunes, cd baby, and Amazon. It is streaming on all platforms.