The Jazz Scene: 'A Cole Christmas,' 'Comfort and Joy,' and more

Though pianist and vocalist Freddy Cole, brother of the late and legendary Nat, has never become the entertainment presence or attained the headline status of Nat, he has nonetheless carved out a healthy, successful, and artistically fruitful career in his own understated way. What the 87-year-old Cole has as a vocalist, as a pianist, and as a creative and soulful improviser is charm. That charm will grace the stage of Kimmel Center on Saturday, December 15, at 8pm, as he headlines A Cole Christmas with the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia. Cole will no doubt sing his brother’s holiday anthem, Mel Tormé’s “The Christmas Song,” and other delightful gems.

Comfort and Joy 2018

Another vocal gem on view this holiday season is Mary Ellen Desmond, described by none other than Jazz Times magazine as “the most refreshing voice in jazz.” There’s a purity about Desmond’s vocal talent — it’s devoid of licks, clichés, or vocal tricks — that makes her singular way with a jazz standard or American popular song irresistible. This year will mark the 16th year of Desmond’s Comfort and Joy holiday concert, being held on Sunday, December 16, at 6pm at the Church of Saint Luke and the Epiphany (330 South 13th Street). This benefit for lives affected by HIV/AIDS also features the region’s finest instrumentalists: saxophonist Larry McKenna, pianist Tom Lawton, bassist Lee Smith, and drummer Dan Monoghan.

Jazz surprises

Chestnut Hill might seem an unlikely locale for a hot jazz jam session, but under the leadership of the ultratalented saxophonist Thomas B. Razier, Paris Bistro (8229 Germantown Avenue) will be the place to be for Chestnut Hill jazzers on the second Wednesday of each month. Razier is a heavyweight. Among other items on his resume, he’s a Berklee College of Music graduate, and he worked the road with the Tommy Dorsey ghost band. The confab kicks off on Wednesday, December 12 and runs from 7 to 10pm.

The jazz community at large owes a debt of gratitude to the Berks County Arts Council, the Boscov’s department store organization, and the city of Reading for surmounting any number of geographic and demographic challenges to present the 29th annual Berks Jazz Fest. Dates and performers have just been announced for this incredible nine-day festival, which will take place on various stages in and around Reading from Friday, April 5, through Sunday, April 14, 2019.

The mix of local, regional, and national acts is an impressive one, and even though the fest has been running for almost three decades, the presenters still manage to come up with some surprises. This year, on Friday, April 5, at 7pm, it’s drummer Steve Smith — yes, of Journey fame — and the NYC edition of his famed group Vital Information, a high-energy unit that combines state-of-the-art fusion with the best of the jazz tradition. Smith, whom many — including yours truly — consider the finest drummer working today, last hit Reading with his Buddy Rich tribute group and blew everyone away. With Steve Smith at the helm, no doubt this will happen again.