June 2002

Philly Jazz
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By Donald True Van Deusen

Songbirds (local female vocalists) will be singing every Sunday afternoon from ll:30 a.m. to 3 p. m. all through June at Shannon's Dining Saloon (215-423-2354) Frankford & Lehigh Avenues, Philadelphia. Admission is free. Mark Kramer, a top Philadelphia piano man, who has worked with such local stars as Larry McKenna, Khan Jamal and Butch Reed and such national figures as Lee Konitz and Randy Brecker will provide musical support. He has won praise from such major jazz authorities as Teddy Wilson and George Wein. The club will continue featuring the exciting Phil Giordano Jazz Orchestra every Monday evening and the new booking expands their pop/jazz offerings.

The singers, starting June 2, in order of appearance, will be: Meg Clifton, Shakira Jones, Suzanne Cloud, Mary Ellen Desmond and Joann Pascale. Clifton and Pascale are two of the most exciting young new singers garnering justified praise for dates at local clubs. Jones has the style and song savvy of a young Ella Fitzgerald according to some authorities. Desmond is an established long time local favorite and Cloud a seasoned veteran with a lifetime of major local and national bookings.

Continuing this Spring-Summer songfest, Lou Lanza turned the pages of the classic pop songbook with Ms Desmond at Chris' Jazz Cafe (215.568.3131) 1421 Sansom Street, Philadelphia June 1 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. They were backed by top tenor man Bootise Barnes and the redoubtable Mr. Kramer on piano. Admission was $8, $5 for students.

Composers covered were: Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Hoagy Carmichael. Songs include: "Blue Skies," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," "Blues In The Night," "Meditation," "The Nearness of You," "Two Sleepy People" and "Skylark." Both singers, who just recently teamed up at Chris' Jazz Cafe, have won raves for their work at local and national club dates. The session was a pure joy with Lanza and Desmond once again demonstrating how much we lost with the great composers of pop songs from the 20th century and Bootsie Barnes playing glorious sax passages including a heart-stoppingly beautfiful rendition of Sunday n New York. Mr. Kramer gave playful and expert piano support.