The NorcalMLK Foundation’s International Colloquium Series will celebrate theology and jazz at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) with an inspiring lecture and colloquium event.
This gathering is part of the Foundation’s ongoing global effort to explore the meaning of community in an age of uncertainty, drawing on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the traditions of Black theology.
The Geneva program centers on “The Encounter Between Theology and Jazz,” inviting participants to consider how jazz functions not just as art, but as a theological and cultural language. Dr. Aaron Grizzell, Executive Director of the NorcalMLK Foundation, opens with a focus on how African American historical religious and music and art traditions shape movements for civil and human rights globally.
The scholarly dialogue continues with Rev. Dr. Valerie Miles-Tribble (Berkeley School of Theology), who explores the contemporary relevance of theological engagement with jazz, and Dr. Raymond Carr (Harvard University Moses Mesoamerican Archive; Society for the Study of Black Religion), who offers a creative theological interpretation grounded in jazz improvisation.
The event unfolds across lectures, discussions, and a culminating Jazz Vespers, blending intellectual inquiry with artistic expression. The following day extends the conversation through an open forum, inviting collaborative reflection among scholars and participants.
These sessions are available on-demand.
