Results for "Philadelphia"

Jump City Jazz Orchestra

Active since: 1994

The Jump City Jazz Orchestra is comprised of eighteen of the Delaware Valley's finest musicians and vocalists. Since its founding in 1994 under the name "Audubon Jazz Explosion", the Jump City Jazz Orchestra has delighted audiences of all sizes with its entertaining and exciting performances of the 20th Century's greatest music. With a repertoire of hundreds of songs, JCJO faithfully recreates the magic and excitement of over seventy years of big band and swing music. Our roots take us back to the traditional big band sounds of the World War II-era bands like Glenn Miller and Woody Herman

Jef Lee Johnson

Born: June 26, 1958

Jef Lee Johnson is a true American original and a true American gift to the musical world. Guys like Jef are the embodiment of every reason to use the phrase, "He's got more talent in his pinkie than so and so has in his entire body!" Problem is, especially lately, relatively dawdling critics like myself can't keep up! See, anyone who knows who Jef Lee Johnson is knows he's rippin' it up. He's rippin' it up so prolifically these days he's finished up another record, called "St. Somebody", during the time it took me to get this interview down on paper, or electrons, or whatever this interview is "down" on. Jef Lee has played since he was a young boy growing up and playing up in the church his grandfather built in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA

Bootsie Barnes

Born: November 27, 1937

Premier jazz saxophonist Robert “Bootsie” Barnes has been proclaimed a Philadelphia treasure. “Bootsie” began his musical career at age 6 on piano switching to drums at 10. His grandmother gave him a saxophone at age 19 and he knew he had found his niche. In school, classmates included drummers, Lex Humphries, Bill Cosby, Al “Tootie” Heath; bassist “Spanky” DeBrest, trumpeter Lee Morgan, and a host of Philadelphia giants who went on to help shape the maturing sound of jazz music. Those who had the biggest influence on him were his father, who played trumpet with Bill Doggett’s 16 piece big band, and his cousin Jimmy Hamilton, saxophonist and star clarinetist of Duke Ellington’s band for 26 years. In the 60’s and early 70’s Bootsie played the renowned “Chitterling Circuit” which included clubs such as South Jersey’s Dreamland, Cotton Club, Laurettas’ Hi Hat, Pearl’s Celebrity Room and Over the Top

Neil Podgurski

Neil Podgurski lives in Philadelphia where he works as a sideman and leads his own band, New Fire. Neil has performed with Mickey Roker, the late Arthur Harper, Larry Mckenna, Frank Tibiri, George Garzone, David Schnitter, the late Jimmy Oliver, Tim Warfield, Eric Alexander, the late Dennis Charles, Joe Cambers, the late Arnie Lawrence, Byron Landham, and Robert Landham. Neil also acknowledges the great lessons he has learned in rhythm section playing as a pianist from his good friend and mentor Sid Simmons. The band repertoire consists of a steadily growing book of Neil's originals. The band is a quintet comprised of John Swana on trumpet, Brian Settles on tenor saxophone, Mike Boone on bass and Doug Hirlinger on drum set

Brinae Ali

Born: April 15, 1982

Alexandria “Brinae Ali” Bradley’s background in the arts is quite extensive. Her first experience began at age three when she put on her first pair of tap shoes. This introduction ushered in her destiny. Under the guidance of her father, Alfred Bruce Bradley, and the Creative Expressions Dance Studio in Flint, Michigan, her gift and love for music, dance and theatre afforded her the opportunity to enhance and display her talents through a host of venues. Throughout high school, she worked as a choreographer and dance instructor of ballet, jazz, and tap. As well, she ventured into vocal and instrumental music. For the past twenty -one years Bradley has been walking in purpose with a multitude of gifts that was bestowed upon her through heredity and culture

Leon Mitchell

Born: August, 1934

Leon Mitchell was born in August 1934 and raised in North Philadelphia, PA where he attended public schools and was an honor graduate from Northeast High School in 1951. He has been immersed in music since he turned pro as an alto saxophonist immediately after graduation. Leon continued his music studies in the years that followed with Romeo Cascarino at Combs College, Jimmy Heath, and Bill Barron, the older brother of the fabulous Jazz pianist Kenny Barron. Very early, his musical interests leaned toward composition and arranging, and he focused on developing his skills in these areas. In 1956, Art Blakey recorded the first of Leon's Jazz compositions entitled "Late Spring" with his Jazz Messengers

Ella Gahnt

Born: May 7

The Elegant Ella Gahnt, Jazz vocalist and arranger, has been performing professionally since the age of 18 and is finally living her dream by performing the songs she loves. Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, she has studied piano, voice, guitar, saxophone, and music theory at Granoff and Settlement Music schools, and PCPA - now University of The Arts, and continues private instruction with her husband Leon Mitchell - composer, arranger, vocal coach, and musical director of The Philadelphia Legends of Jazz Orchestra.

Ella has worked as vocalist and music copyist on recordings with many popular artists like Grover Washington, Jr., The Stylistics, and Pieces of a Dream. Ella has performed as jazz vocalist throughout the East Coast with jazz groups led by Sam Reed, Roger Prieto, Tony Williams, Sam Dockery, Butch Ballard, Gerald Smith, and her own E.G. Trio/Quartet. Ella has performed at the PECO Energy & Afro-American Museum’s "Jazz 'til Sunrise" Festival, and a concert entitled "Just Us" along with vocalist Pearl Williams at the Painted Bride in Philadelphia, PA. Ella and her trio performed a memorable concert in the Perelman Theatre of the famed Kimmel Center during their Summer Solstice Celebration. In March 2005, Ella was named “Jazz Ambassador” by the School District of Philadelphia along with her husband Leon Mitchell.

Brian Pastor

The Brian Pastor Big Band, founded in 1994, is a 17 piece jazz ensemble comprised of some of Philadelphia's finest musicians. It was created as an outlet for area musicians to perform the music they love, and to provide a showcase for outstanding jazz soloists, composers and arrangers. Members of the Brian Pastor Big Band include music educators and past and present performers with well known music organizations such as the Philadelphia Orchestra and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. Several band members are freelance studio and theater performers. Pastor is currently principal trombonist with Peter Nero and The Philly Pops, and has been a music educator in Philadelphia for many years. The Band is noted for its tight ensemble, solos of the highest quality, exhilarating diverse arrangements and original compositions "a swingin' band that will make you smile." From straight ahead jazz to funk, the band?s repertoire targets a following of all ages. The Brian Pastor Big Band has had extended engagements at Philadelphia area clubs including 23rd Street Café, the Blue Moon Jazz Café, the Cherry Hill (NJ) Hilton, the Casino Deli, and is noted for appearances at private engagements, music festivals, educational workshops and annual appearances at the Penn's Landing Summer Concert Series

Chris Farr

Saxophonist Chris Farr graduated from University of the Arts in 1995 and since then has been a highly sought after performer and educator. Chris is currently the head of the saxophone department at the University of the Arts. Chris is also a clinician and endorser of Eastman saxophones. Over the past 15 years has performed, toured and recorded with the likes of Elvis Costello, Jill Scott, Sting, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, The Roots, Teddy Pendergrass, Grover Washington, Gerald Veasley & Maynard Ferguson.

Lucas Brown

Born: May 28, 1980

Lucas Brown is a performing artist, composer and educator. He actively performs both Jazz and classical music and has performed around the US and Canada at such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center, the Jazz Standard and the Blue Note, as well as in Europe and Asia. His compositions have been presented throughout the US and Europe. A member of the faculty at Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music, Lucas holds a BM in Jazz Performance from Temple University and a MM in Organ Performance from Westminster Choir College. 

Lucas was a member of saxophone legend Bootsie Barnes' organ trio from the age of 21. He has performed with such Jazz artists as Joey DeFrancesco, Pat Martino, Eric Alexander, Terell Stafford, and Gerald Veasley, and is a sideman on numerous recordings. He was awarded the Clef Club Jazz Award in 2014 in recognition of his contributions as an organist in Philadelphia. Lucas was a member of the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour (PennPAT) artist roster as a member of the group Three Blind Mice, with Victor North and Wayne Smith Jr. Lucas has also performed with Opera Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Lucas toured for three years with Joey DeFrancesco's final trio and is featured on Joey’s album, More Music, released in September of 2021.