Saxophonist Jeff Gutierrez, 24, was navigating the aisle between the tea sandwiches and the fresh-brewed coffee when a short, curly-haired woman in her mid-60s eagerly honed in on him.

"That was the most fun I've had in church in as long as I can remember," she exclaimed, momentarily grabbing his forearm for emphasis.

Jeff returned a smile, and the two chatted about the success of the Hurricane Katrina benefit concert. Jeff and fellow jazz musician Charles Geizhals, co-founders of East West Music School, brought their jazz combo to Christ Episcopal Church in Garden City in February, where their jazz standards and original works helped earn an impressive $5,000 for a New Orleans boy's home.

To the delight of the Christ Episcopal congregation, Jeff and Charles will be back with their jazz combo this Sunday, May 7, at 10 a.m. to play a jazz Mass. For many, such a program helps cast the weekly church-going ritual in a new light. Others simply enjoy the opportunity to hear jazz, again or for the first time. For some, a fresh sound re-engages them in the service both spiritually and emotionally.

While Jeff and Charles enjoy bringing their music to the ears of Nassau County residents, they also hope to bring jazz to people's hands and hearts. To that end, East West Music has offered private and group instruction in Garden City since 2005.

East West began its work in Garden City last summer with a jazz workshop and a Musikgarten class (for ages 0-4), each of which was held twice weekly for four weeks. In the fall, East West commenced its private instruction for piano, saxophone, clarinet and flute and its private and group jazz lessons. In addition, jazz combo workshops and Musikgarten classes continued to be offered year-round.

Now Jeff and Charles are gearing up for the summer. In July, East West will again run special summer programs, which include a jazz workshop and Musikgarten classes. The jazz workshop is intended for anyone who wants to learn more about jazz, especially those who are familiar with an instrument and have a basic knowledge of scales. Sessions will focus on improvisation, how to play in small groups, the history of music and playing.

When asked how the workshop would be different or improved from the previous year, Jeff said, "Because we've increased the number of days in the workshop, we'll be able to cover topics in much greater depth. Even better, we'll get to have students play together more, putting their learning into practice. This is an especially important part of the learning process. I think students will leave the workshop with a deeper understanding of their new skills and ideas."

This summer the jazz workshop will be held three days a week-Monday, Thursday and Friday-from 3:45 to 6:15 p.m., starting June 29 and finishing July 28.

Musikgarten classes cater to infants and toddlers and their parents. Their interactive programming mixes music-making, singing and movement in an effort to sow early seeds in a child's lifetime of musical enjoyment, understanding and playing.

This summer Musikgarten classes will again meet twice weekly (days TBA), also from late June until July 28, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (See www.musikgarten.org/ for more information about the Musikgarten philosophy.) Jeff said that he and Charles expect a mix of returning and new students.

Jeff, of San Jose, CA, and Charles, 25, a Long Island native of Port Washington, met in the jazz program at Northwestern University, where they both graduated in 2003. That fall they both moved to New York City: Charles to acquire his master's degree in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music, and Jeff to teach and freelance as a musician. Together they formed East West Music in 2005 and began to offer workshops and lessons under the roof of Christ Episcopal Church, located at 33 Jefferson Road in Garden City, phone (516) 775-2626.

For more information on East West Music, e-mail info@eastwestmusicny.com, call (917) 254-3306 or visit eastwestmusicny.com.