(L. to r.): Hank Johnson Jazzbone Trio Bassist John Ray, Drummer Gary Smith, St. Michael’s Cemetery Controller and Baritone Jeff Miller, St. Michael’s Cemetery Director of Community Relations Ed Horn and Hank Johnson, pianist. St. Michael’s Cemetery, 72-02 Astoria Blvd., East Elmhurst, refuses to be known merely as a warehouse for the past. Instead, the cemetery is a venue for the celebration and affirmation of life. Those affirmations include concerts on the birthday of Scott Joplin, celebrated ragtime musician who is buried at the cemetery, an annual memorial for firefighters, police officers and other victims of the 9/11 attacks and this year, on February 13, a songfest for Valentine’s Day featuring the Hank Johnson Jazzbone Trio, with John Ray on bass, Gary Smith on drums and Hank Johnson on acoustic grand piano. St. Michael’s Cemetery Director of Community Relations Edward Horn officiated and Jeff Miller, St. Michael’s controller, sang several numbers in his classic baritone voice. Miller is soon to be releasing his first CD. Refreshments were provided by Gus Antonopoulos of Farenga Funeral Home, John Golden of Martin Gleason Funeral Home and Kevin Mack of Thomas M. Quinn & Sons Funeral Home. The concert, “celebrating a day of love, affection and remembrance” held in the cemetery’s All Faiths Chapel, was free and open to the general public.

Ed Horn, St. Michael’s Cemetery director of community relations, introduces the Hank Johnson Jazzbone Trio to the Valentine’s Day Songfest audience gathered in the cemetery’s All Faiths Chapel February 13. St. Michael’s Cemetery is owned and operated by St. Michael’s Church, an Episcopal congregation located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Established in 1852, St. Michael’s Cemetery is one of the oldest religious, nonprofit cemeteries in the New York City metropolitan area open to people of all faiths. For more information, call 718-278- 3240.

Classic bass Jeff Miller, also St. Michael’s Cemetery controller, performs several numbers from the Great American Songbook. –Rose Albergo