March 2002

Philly Jazz
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By Donald True Van Deusen

A St. Patrick's Day festival of "firsts" is declared for Chris' Jazz Cafe (215.568-3131) 1421 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, 4-10 p.m., this Sunday by Al McMahon, club talent manager.

McMahon cites the event itself, an all-star jazz jam session at the cafe on Sunday and the world premier performance by the Philadelphia Irish-American All Star Jazz Band made up of top local jazz people of Irish descent as "firsts." The band includes: Larry McKenna, tenor sax; Mike Kennedy, guitar; Dan Monaghan, drums; Kevin Mc Connell, bass and Meg Clifton, vocals.

The thrust behind this celebration is also something of a "first"--a fund raiser (dubbed "Glenn Stock") to help Glenn Gerber, co-owner of the club, restock his home after a recent devastating fire in which he lost almost everything. He is a lawyer who clearly loves jazz as anyone who ever talked to him or taken note of his club's offerings can tell you. Some of the finest jazz musicians in Philadelphia are paying tribute to that devotion with this event. There will be a cash bar, complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a suggested minimum donation of $10.

Among the many other top local musicians and vocalists scheduled for this Sunday session are: Bootsie Barnes, Jimmy Bruno, Dave Brodie, George Burton, Mary Ellen Desmond, Craig Ebner, Chris Farr, Phil Giordano, Shakera Jones, Mike Kennedy, Mark Kramer, Lou Lanza, Jo Ann Pascale, Victor North, Madison Rast, Jim Shade, Sid Simmons, Lee Smith, Pete Smyser, Grant Stewart, John Swana, Webb Thomas, J. D. Walter and Brian Woestehoff.

McMahon assures me McKenna will play "Danny Boy" and that none could play it more touchingly. Someone was recently heard singing, "Now, tell me Al McMahon, tell me why you hurry so and he answered with a whisper and his cheeks were all aglow, get you ready ready for this session, get you ready quick and soon for the band must be together by the rising of the moon."