It is going to be a jazzy Christmas at Christ Lutheran Church in Pacific Beach thanks to singer\/songwriter Carjanae (above), who will be giving a soulful vocal performance of Christmas hymns at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 4761 Cass St.<\/p>\n
Carjanae, who goes by that title, will be joined by pianist Sophia Elswick and guitarist Christian Rodriguez on stage amid the nationally renowned mosaic interior of Christ Lutheran Church. Her wide-ranging vocal style has taken her from December Nights in Balboa Park to roles in \u201cAin\u2019t Misbehavin’,\u201d \u201cLittle Shop of Horrors,\u201d \u201cMiss You Like Hell,\u201d and \u201cInto the Woods.\u201d Her latest releases are \u201cReally?\u201d and \u201cControl,\u201d with beats by her sister, specs.so.smooth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love singing Christmas music with as much love, fun, and joy as possible,\u201d said the 23-year-old songstress and poet, who is San Diego born and raised.<\/p>\n
Carjanae met her concert accompanists at Grossmont College where she said they were \u201cjazz vocalists together.\u201d She added Grossmont is where she \u201cfell in love with jazz even more finding ways of being more creative. It was so much fun to be able to sing a song so differently: It was inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n
The vocalist was excited to be asked by the church to do their Christmas concert. \u201cI just want to make sure I give it all I can, to touch someone with the spirit of God, and the joy I personally get when I sing Christmas music,\u201d she confided.<\/p>\n
Of their trio\u2019s Dec. 11 performance, Carjanae noted they are going to be doing jazz spinoffs of Yuletide favorites like \u201cMy Favorite Things.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things I love about jazz is the possibilities of solos,\u201d said the jazz singer. \u201cI love to give everybody a chance to do a solo with their instrument. Christian has some amazing guitar licks that he does within his solo and Sophia, \u2018I just love how she plays piano.\u2019 Jazz gives everybody a chance to shine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carjanae added she loves being versatile and singing in all types of musical genres. \u201cI don\u2019t want to limit myself to anyone,\u201d she said adding, \u201cI\u2019m always open to performing anywhere. I just keep saying one of my goals is to spread love. And any opportunity I get to do that \u2013 I will take it.\u201d<\/p>\n
CLC\u2019s digital media director, Chelsey Hinrichsen, noted the church has \u201ca robust social media presence that represents our mission and ethos as a congregation, sharing the unconditional love of God with \u2018all\u2019 people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hinrichsen said CLC offers a lot of programming. \u201cWe recently hosted a free meditation series for the community titled Connect & Glow, which was designed by our music coordinator and is set to music,\u201d she said. \u201cLast month, the Matsiko World Orphan Choir performed in our sanctuary as a free concert for the community. The Dec 11 event is ticketed, in an effort to support both the band and Christ Lutheran Church’s music fund. We plan to host other artists, such as David Wilcox, this spring.\u201d<\/p>\n
Programs\/ministries at CLC include weekly pastor-led Bible studies on the week’s upcoming readings, monthly Bible studies hosted by members, music ministries such as a grassroots group of ukulele players named The Ukulutherans, a monthly book group, a Matching Gift Program, and Endowment Fund scholarship opportunities.<\/p>\n
Groups and organizations rent space from the church to carry out their missions. Those groups include a down syndrome achievement\u00a0center, a community homeless resource hub, immigrant support, daily 12 Step recovery\u00a0groups, free\/low-cost yoga classes, and a community garden.<\/p>\n
Tickets for the Dec. 11 Christmas concert are $20 and can be purchased at the door or http:\/\/bit.ly\/3gzO09F<\/a>. For more information about Christ Lutheran Church Pacific Beach, visit christpb.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n About Christ Lutheran<\/p>\n