Music for the Soul: An Evening with the Greg Wall and Portal

The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab welcomes Greg Wall, the “Jazz Rabbi,” and Matt Moadel and Rich Zurkowski for an evening of musical performance and reflection on the power of music to heal the soul.

Saxophonist Greg Wall has performed and recorded with Hasidic New Wave, Greg Wall Trio, The Wall/London Band, Neshama Carlebach, the Hi-Tops, Greg Wall’s Unity Orchestra, and has made many session appearances for record dates and film scores.

Matt Moadel is a working drummer and teacher who has immersed himself deeply in many styles, ranging from traditional drum set styles and rudimental snare drumming to Middle-Eastern and African drumming. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Percussion from Western Connecticut State University and has studied privately with teachers of many genres.

Matt has performed in many settings, from Jazz and Reggae to Flamenco and Funk to marching bands and pit orchestras. He has worked for 15 years as a performer, with many musicians, including the great Jazz Bassist Bill Crow, Indian Tabla master Deep Singh, Jim Donovan of “Rusted Root” and Flamenco great Val Ramos. Matt has been giving one-on-one instruction the past 10 years.

His curriculum is not limited to one path but follows a natural progression, directed not only by the need for the essential elements of music and drumming but also by the needs and learning style of the student. (From JazzFC)

Rich Zurkowski is a bassist. He was a musician for a very long time. Then he met [his daughter] and his whole life changed. For as long as either of them can remember they have played and sang together, for nothing else but the joy of it. (From Bridgeport Art Trail)