July 2002

Philly Jazz
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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 Charlotte¹s 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" d¹Amico Trio¹s 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.