The Afro-Semitic Experience, a world-renowned jazz ensemble, will present a free community jazz jam and entertain with an interfaith dialogue at First Baptist Church, 700 Highland Ave. in Winston-Salem at noon Saturday, April 12.

The band’s music is a mix of spiritual, world-beat, funk, jazz, cantorial, gospel, salsa, swing soul-driven music.  Their concerts are celebrations where they play great music, tell stories, and offer a positive and meaningful message: Unity in the Community. 

Co-founded by African-American jazz pianist Warren Byrd, and Jewish-American jazz bassist David Chevan for an interfaith Martin Luther King memorial service in 1998, The Afro-Semitic Experience has shared their music at concerts, workshops, and worship services all across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Their music is an intricate tapestry of the distinct cultures and heritages of the members of the group. They weave stories and music together as they celebrate and explain the Jewish and African-American sacred traditions.

The ensemble is being brought to Winston-Salem by Temple Emanuel, Green Street United Methodist Church and Interfaith Winston-Salem.  The group will also join the First Baptist-Highland congregation as part of a Lenten service at noon Friday, April 11; move to Temple Emanuel Friday evening for the 7:30 Shabbat service; and conclude their stay by participating in the 11 a.m. service at Green Street Church on Sunday.