The Rev. Norm Freeman, Episcopal priest and Grammy award-winning jazz-fusionist, will conduct a Jazz Vespers service from 5 to 6 p.m. Sun., Dec. 7 at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 280 Royal Ave., Simi Valley.

Refreshments will be served in the parish hall afterward.

The service includes live jazz music and the prayer and sung liturgy of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer and The Psalter. A sample of Freeman's Jazz Vespers service may be found at www.jazzministry.org/ JazzVespersSample.htm.

Freeman, a Julliard School graduate, has performed with the New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera, Barbara Streisand's 1994 concert tour, Rick Wakeman, The Moody Blues, Lionel Ritchie, Barry White, Rosemary Clooney, and The Jesse Norman/Kathleen Battle-Spirituals Concert.

He earned a Grammy as percussionist on The New York Philharmonic recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 3 in D Minor.

He also has performed for The New York Pops, MTV Music Video Awards, "Saturday Night Live" with Pavarotti and Vanessa Williams, Metallica, Broadway shows, the New York premiere of Paul McCartney's "Standing Stone" with The Orchestra of St. Luke's, and Jesse Norman's Christmas CD "In The Spirit."

Freeman was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1994 and is the rector of St. George's Episcopal Church in Laguna Niguel.

The event is a fundraiser for the church's capital building campaign. There is no charge to attend, but donations will be accepted to secure funding for facility expansion.

For more information or driving directions, call the church office at (805) 526-5141 or e-mail stfrancischurch@roadrunner.com or visit www.stfrancisofsimi.org.