December 2002

Philly Jazz
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By Donald True Van Deusen

A holiday showcase of Philadelphia jazz offerings is in place over the next two weeks with something for almost every taste.

Pat Martino, the nationally acclaimed guitar giant from South Philadelphia, was at Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1431 Sansom St., (215.568.3131) Nov. 29 and Nov. 30. & Dec. 7, the booming tenor of Philly sax star Bootsie Barnes will be joined by the eloquent trumpet of another local giant, John Swana, at Philadelphia's oldest continuously running jazz club, Ortlieb's Jazz Haus, 847 N. 3rd St. (215.922.1035). Soulful singer searchers will find their way to Kimmel Center's Perelman Theater , Broad and Spruce Streets (215.893.1999) Dec. 7 for the artful vocal stylings of Nnenna Freelon.

Martino was joined at Chris' by Jim Ridl, piano; Steve Varner, bass and Scott Robinson, drums for sets at 9 and 11 p.m. for $25. There is an especial poignance to Martino's visit this year. It was just 100 years ago that the jazz pioneer, guitarist giant Eddie Lang (who taught Martino's singing father, "Mickey" Azzara,) was born, right here on Oct. 25 in South Philadelphia Now something of a jazz legend himself, Martino has covered avant-garde jazz, rock, pop and world music. He has worked with such diverse stars as Lloyd Price, Bobby Darin and Joey DeFrancesco.

Barnes and Swana, will be joined at Ortlieb's for sets going from 8:45 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. for just a $5 cover by the finest rhythm section one could find---Sid Simmons, piano; Madison Rast, bass and Byron Landham, drums. Bootise is a tenor man in the great tradition of Coleman Hawkins who can electrify a crowd with foot-stomping power and make them weep with tender ballad treatments. He has worked with the best of jazz legends and held his own. Swana, who seems to be working everywhere on everything, with astonishing facility, has established a reputation as one of the finest trumpet men recording today. He arranges, composes, leads his own groups and, like Bootsie, can go from one genre to another with ease.

Ms Freelon will be at the Kimmel Center at 7:30 p.m Dec. 7. with tickets at $40. She has been earning rave reviews over the past 10 years years since her first recording and will undoubtedly feature selections from her current CD celebrating the works of Steve Wonder called "Tales of Wonder." Her reviews have noted her ability to shift styles going from Sinatra classics to spirituals such as "Amazing Grace" which she sang in her first solo performance at age seven Cambridge, Mass. She is the winner of the Billie Holiday Award from the Academic Du Jazz and the Eubie Blake Award and has been twice nominated for "Lady of Soul" Soul Train Award. She has been nominated for five Grammy Awards, has worked with major stars such as Ray Charles and Al Jarreau and made her film debut in the Mel Gibson hit, "What Women Want."