December 2002
Philly Jazz
Archive
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Holiday Jazz Package
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."
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