By Donald True Van Deusen
Apart from the Mellon Jazz Festival there is a lot of fine jazz going all
over town this weekend. For example:
Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St., Philadelphia (215. 568-3131) tonight has
Canadian tenor sax star Grant Stewart with top trumpet man John Swana with
Lucas Brown on organ and Webb Thomas, drums going from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. for
$8 admission, $5 for students. Tomorrow night brings back the Big Swing Face
band along with that delightful young vocalist Meg Clifton.
Ortlieb's Jazz Haus, 847 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia (215.922.1035) tonight
and tomorrow night has an equally exciting jazz line-up with Randy Johnston,
guitar; Bim Strasberg, bass; Mickey Roker, drums and Sid Simmons, piano 9
p.m. to 1 a.m. for a $5 admission. Sunday night has Roger Prieto on trumpet
with his jam session quartet from 8 p.m. to Midnight and itÃÂÃÂÃÂùs free.
Nodding Head Brewery & Restaurant, 1516 Sansom St., Philadelphia
(215.569.9525) is serving up some cool jazz this Sunday afternoon with the
tenor sax man from Alaska, Victor North, backed up by Dan Monaghan, drums
and Lucas Brown, organ. It's free and sets go from Noon to 4 p.m.
The Kimmel Center, all night Summer Solstice tonight 8 p.m.-8 a.m. is
offering for a $10 entry fee a variety of jazz styles and performers that
cover the proverbial waterfront and hours too. : "Papa" John DeFrancesco and
his Hammond B-3 jazz organ will be raising the roof from 10 to 11 p.m. at
Verizon Hall. Juanita Holiday will be providing jazz vocals from Midnight
to 1 a.m.. Mike Boone, bass with Doug Hirlinger, drums; Neil Podgurski.
piano is at the Perelman Theater from 3 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.; Mama Winslow at
Verizon Hall from 4 to 4:45 a.m. and Keisha Hutchins with Doug Hirlinger and
Friends from 11 p.m. to Midnight at the Innovation Studio. Tickets are
available at the door, Broad and Spruce Street (215.893.1999).