ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — One local musician calls jazz the earth's gift to the universe. Herb Smith said the American art form wouldn't exist without the racial strife Black people endured. Wednesday night, Smith and others connected over that music in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "Sometimes, people are comfortable putting 'Black Lives Matter' signs in their lawn but not having black lives in their schools and neighborhoods and to live with and to play with and so on," said Kevin Spencer Beckford, MLK Series founder. A trumpeter with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) brought some young musicians with him to the United Church of Pittsford for the event. Together, they kicked off the sixth annual "MLK Living the Dream Series." "His dream was to see all of us worshiping together, celebrating together communing together so we're bringing that dream to fruition here in Pittsford," said Rev. Julius D. Jackson. The evening included archive footage of Dr. King. Although the official holiday isn't until Jan. 20, celebrations will continue throughout the rest of the month. Musician plays uncommon instrument for patients at Highland Hospital "We wanted to do it the full month and not just a day to kind of resemble what he wanted as a dream," said Tharaha Thavakumar, President of Pittsford CommUNITY. The free series is open to the public and continues for the next three Wednesdays with film screenings, and poetry slam. "I really want to provide a loving opportunity for people to come, enjoy something, learn something, and look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, 'Can I celebrate Dr. King and quote him, what am I doing to actually live his dream?" Said Beckford. The program will conclude with an interfaith service on the first Sunday in February. For more information, you can click here.