When jazz was just starting out, the church was its biggest enemy. Pianists were especially dangerous, because they often led the groups. From Dixieland jazz bands to dance orchestras, the great battle for Christians was in separating the sin from the syncopation.

Over time the music got serious, with most modern and contemporary jazz composition influenced by classical music. However, there's still a touch of irony in Prague's next jazz festival being held at a church.

Now in its 10th year, the International Festival of Jazz Piano has brought renowned players to town such as Abdullah Ibrahim (from South Africa), Charles Gale, D.D. Jackson and Aki Takase. While the first festival featured just three performers, this year's schedule has 12 solo recitals, with performers culled from across Europe and as far away as Brazil.

Headlining the opening concert Nov. 13 is Fritz Pauer from Vienna, who has recorded a wide array of music on German labels since the '60s. His best bossa nova tunes have been re-released (without remixes) by the Sonar Kollective in Berlin, and you can't get much hipper than that. The evening also features Mike Del Ferro from Amsterdam and Marcin Masecki from Poland. Del Ferro often plays with Toots Thielemans, and as director of Jazz Programs of American Voices, he performs around the world. Masecki, just 23, won first place at the International Jazz Competition in Moscow this spring.

Headlining the Nov. 20 show is Alexi Tuomarila from Finland, who was lauded recently in Jazzreview by critic Brad Mehldau. "Once a year or so, I hear someone new and I think, 'This person will have a life in music that will affect other musicians and touch a lot of people,'" Mehldau said. He then named Tuomarila as a player of that status.

About his upcoming show, Tuomarila says, "I haven't played in a church before and can't wait! I love the beautiful, relaxed atmosphere in the churches and the sound. I'm definitely happy to play in Prague, and since it's in a church it's even more appealing."

This concert also features Ole J. Storli from Denmark and Janos Nagy from Hungary. Storli covers all the bases. "I play jazz, rock, pop, country, noise music, blues, funk and electronica," he says. "But people still call me Boogie-Woogie Ole or Ole Blind." Nagy is as varied. He composes jazz and opera with productions and recordings in both genres. He also plays with the Hungarian jazz-rock group European Mantra. And as of this year, he's the keyboard player in the Hungarian Jazz Quartet.

The headliner for Nov. 27 is Weber Iago from Rio de Janiero. Influenced as much by classical and jazz as by Brazilian music (not bossa or samba, but Choro, a unique Brazilian jazz), Iago is a performer truly inspired by world culture.

This evening also features Klaudius Kovác from Slovakia and Takis Farazis from Greece. Kovác is a Roma most inspired by swing. In 1996 he formed Swing Q, and since 1998 he has been performing with his trio Nothing But Swing. Farazis is a well-respected jazz pianist at home as well as in Japan. He also composes music for the National Theater of Greece and soundtracks for films.

The final evening, Dec. 4, features Elias Meiri from Italy and a local Czech, Ondrej Kabrna. Headlining the show is Frenchman Didier Squiban, who blends traditional Breton music with jazz improvisation and classical romanticism. His 2005 release, Tournée des chapelles, is a remarkable collection of solo piano recordings performed in churches in Brittany. Let's hope he can re-create such spiritual feeling in Prague.

When asked why the festival is in a church this year, promoter Petr Pylypov remarks candidly, "Because it's cheap — much cheaper than the Rudolfinum. Besides, the space has a nice sound and they have an excellent piano, a Steinway."