July 2002
Philly Jazz
Archive
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Summer-long Events
By Donald True Van Deusen
A cornucopia of jazz offerings was overflowing in Philadelphia this weekend
and some of them are Summer-long events.
The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts, Broad and Fitzwater
Streets, Philadelphia (215.763.2819) (under the direction of Leon Mitchell) is
offering what it is promoting as a war featuring some of "Philly Jazz's
Toughest Young Lions" Sunday at 5 p.m. . The session, this week, features Rick
Tate, Jr., alto sax; Jafar Barron, trumpet; Lamont Caldwell, tenor sax and
Darrent A. Polk, trombone. Also appearing will be the Philadelphia Legends of
Jazz Orchestra, composed of some of the elder statesmen of Philadelphia jazz
with vocalist Ella Gahnt. Advance tickets are $20 and $25 at the door which
includes door prizes and a buffet serving by CharlotteÃÂÃÂÃÂùs Classical Catering.
Denise King's free outdoor Friday 3rd annual jazz concert series Friday night
at
6-8 p.m. at the Firehouse Farmers Market, 50th St. and Baltimore Avenue,
Philadelphia (215.724.6261) featuring some of the finest names in
Philadelphia jazz had Monnette Sudler, guitarist, drummer, poet,
vocalist and composer. She has appeared with such stars as Hugh Masakela,
Grover Washington, Jr. and Freddie Hubbard. Next week she will have Fortune
Vincent Cruz with Brenda Smith who appear regularly at Zanzibar Blue for
considerably more money. Miss King is a first class jazz singer herself and
has appeared at these concerts.
Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St., Philadelphia (215.568.3131) Saturday night
from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. for just a $10 admission provided another
showcase of the great American songbook by Mary Ellen Desmond and Lou Lanza,
Jr. accompanied by the incomparable tenor titan Bootise Barnes. They were
offering songs featuring lyrics by the best of the wordsmiths in music--Johnny
Mercer, Dorothy Fields, Sammy Cahn and Frank Loesser. This also happens to be
Lanza's birthday. Next Thursday night, Chris will have the "Father John"
dÃÂÃÂÃÂùAmico TrioÃÂÃÂÃÂùs distinctive jazz offerings from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
A said note was struck this weekend with the July 20 death of Evelyn
Simms, one of the finest vocalists and sweetest woman Philadlephia jazz ever
had. She was the sister in law of Bootsie Barnes.
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