By Donald True Van Deusen
Some swinging sessions including several stylish singers will be
featured at local Philadelphia clubs over the next two weeks.
Barbara Montgomery, the beautiful blonde ballad and blues singer was
back at Zanzibar Blue at Broad and Walnut Streets (215.732.4500) Dec. 13 and
Dec. 14 with shows at 9 &11 p.m. for a $20 charge. Three of the
finest singers in town--Mary Ellen Desmond, Meg Clifton and Joann Pascale
will be with terrific tenor man Bootsie Barnes and the always delightful
Mark Kramer Trio as part of a holiday show at Chris' Jazz Cafe at 1421
Sansom Street (215.568.3131) Dec. 21 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. for a $10
charge. Dec. 13, for the same price and time, Chris' had top drummer man Ari
Hoenig with the Jonathan Kriesberg Trio and trumpet virtuoso John Swanna
while Dec. 14 had Hoenig with the Dave Kikowski Trio.
Ortlieb's Jazz Haus at 847 N. 3rd St. (215.922.1035) featured the highly
regarded trumpet man Terell Stafford along with the fabulous Mickey Roker
Quartet Dec. 13& 14 from 8:45 p.m. to 1 a.m. for just a $5 ticket. Next
weekend, Ortlieb's will be offering a tribute to Milt Jackson.
Montgomery, whose latest CD "Little Sunflower" got rave reviews from
various jazz publications, is as busy as the proverbial one-eyed cat in a
seafood store these days. She is working clubs, writing songs, making CDs,
producing-arranging-writing-singing in some of these gigs. She is now knee
deep in an upcoming gala benefit honoring Walter Annenberg at Kimmel
Center's Verizon Hall (215. 893-1999) Dec. 17, 8-10 p.m. It is sponsored by
local lawyer Pat Coates and called The Rhythms of Christmas. Barbara who
sings just one song this time is producing and her regular piano accompanist
Barry Sames is the creator-arranger. She says ÃÂÃÂÃÂóit was like "Mickey Rooney
and Judy Garland getting together to put on a show in a great big beautiful
barn." Tickets go from $250 for corporate sponsors to $50 for general
admission. Income will go to Philadelphia READS and the Boys and Girls Club
of Philadelphia. Various top local talent such as Gina Roche, Darryl Hall,
Chris Farr, Terell Stafford, Clemmons Washington, Warren Cooper Marlon Simon
and Randy Sutin will be featured.
Hoenig, a native son, has worked with such national stars as Gerry
Mulligan and Shirley Scott. ChrisÃÂÃÂÃÂù ClubÃÂÃÂÃÂùs manager Al McMahon says, "He is
one of the finest most in-demand drummers working in jazz today." Singers
Desmond, Clifton and Pascale have draw packed houses to Chris' with their
sure handling of jazz and pop classic standards.
The Ortlieb's weekend sessions are almost always jam packed
particularly with major stars such as trumpet man Stafford. The regular
sessions: Sunday with the Roger Prieto Quartet; Tuesdays with the house band
featuring owner Pete Souders on occasion; Wednesday's with the smoking
Bootie Barnes Organ Trio and Thursday with the Sid Simmons Quartet are all
now something of a Philadelphia jazz tradition.
