Returns for Jazz Appreciation Month on April 30, 2016
Fifth Annual Center City Jazz Festival in Philadelphia coincides with Jazz Appreciation Month. The festival has announced a jam-packed schedule of 20 bands performing at five venues over six hours, all within walking distance of each other in the heart of Center City.
The CCJF is sponsored by Fifth City Productions, Wyncote Foundation, and Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.
Date: Saturday, April 30, 2016
Time: 1pm – 7pm
Venues: U-Bahn Philly (1320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA)
Time Restaurant (1315 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA)
Fergie’s Pub (1214 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA)
Franky Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor Street, Philadelphia, PA)
Milkboy Philadelphia (1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA)
Tickets: $20 in advance and $25 the day of the festival. One ticket provides access to all performances.
Performers
Orrin Evans (photo courtesy of Damore PR)
Scheduled performers include Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Bigband, Tim Green, Mike Cemprola, Killiam Shakespeare, Anna Cecilia and Anibal Rojas. Musicians added to the initial line-up include Grammy-nominated singer Gretchen Parlato, rising-star harpist Brandee Younger, Ideal Bread with special guest Dave Ballou, Ryan Keberle and Catharsis.
Final line up of NY musicians/bands
*Ideal Bread with special guest Dave Ballou – Brooklyn based Ideal Bread draws its inspiration from Steve Lacy’s rarely covered repertoire. http://bit.ly/1q4hBbc
(performing 4:00pm – 5:00pm at Fergie’s Pub – 1214 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107)
*David Gibson – New York trombonist and composer has performed in acclaimed NY jazz clubs, member of Captain Black Big Band and has taught at SUNY Geneseo, Columbia University and New School University. http://bit.ly/22apXdt
(performing 2:45pm – 3:45pm at U-Bahn Philly – 1320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107)
(also performing 5:30pm – 6:30pm as a member of The Captain Black Big Band at Franky Bradley’s – 1320 Chancellor Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107)
*Ryan Keberle and Catharsis – Brooklyn-based Keberle was recently named #1 Rising Star Trombonist in Downbeat’s annual critics poll. He’s Director of Jazz Studies at Hunter College of CUNY and recently performed on Super Bowl pre-game show. http://bit.ly/239BjEc
(performing 1:30pm – 2:30pm at Milkboy Philadelphia – 1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107)
*Gretchen Parlato – New York-based jazz vocalist is a Grammy nominee for Best Jazz Vocal Album “Live In NYC.” She is a past winner of the Thelonious Monk International Vocal Competition. She is an instructor of jazz voice at Manhattan School of Music in NYC. http://bit.ly/1RDlVbT
(performing 6:00pm – 7:00pm at Milkboy Philadelphia – 1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107)
*Josh Evans – Brooklyn-based trumpet player prodigy was mentored by celebrated composer/educator, Jackie McLean. Toured with the Winard Harper Sextet and The Rashied Ali Quintet. http://bit.ly/1MbueLS
(performing 4:00pm – 5:00pm at Franky Bradley’s – 1320 Chancellor Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107)
*Taylor Eigsti – New York-based pianist and composer is performing with Gretchen Parlato at the Center City Jazz Festival. Two time Grammy nominee for Best Jazz Solo and Best Instrumental Composition for “Lucky to Be Me,” tours extensively with various jazz artists also composes music for various symphony orchestras. http://www.tayjazz.com/
(performing 6:00pm – 7:00pm at Milkboy Philadelphia – 1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107)
*Anibal Rojas – A native of Santiago, Chile, the New Jersey-based saxophonist plays music infused with the rhythmic drive of the Latin beat and the soul of R&B, has performed with Ralph Irizzary & Timbalaye. http://bit.ly/1XfN318
(performing 1:45pm – 2:45pm at Time Restaurant – 1315 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107)
*Brandee Younger – New York-based rising star harpist blends a serene blend of jazz and genres including funk and hip hop. She recently garnered glowing reviews from the New York Times and WNPR. http://bit.ly/1Wa8jXM
(performing 6:15pm – 7:15pm at Time Restaurant – 1315 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107)
The Founder
Philadelphia native Ernest Stuart is the founder/artistic director of the CCJF. A graduate of Temple University. Stuart earned a B.A. in Jazz Performance. As a freelance jazz musician he’s performed at clubs such as The Village Vanguard, The Iridium, Smoke and The Blue Note, among others. In 2010 he returned to Philadelphia to record his debut CD Solitary Walker which was released in 2011. In 2011 he became a member of the Brooklyn-Bhangra band, Red Baraat and continues to tour with them. His solo efforts include the 2014 EP Love/Loss followed by Same Walking Animals released in 2015.
