The Jazz Scene: A month of awards and national legacies

The Marian Anderson Award, named for the legendary Philadelphia opera singer, is given each year to critically acclaimed artists who have used their talents for personal artistic expression and whose body of work has contributed to society. This year’s recipient is trumpeter, educator, bandleader, composer, and jazz advocate Wynton Marsalis. Marsalis will receive the award at a Kimmel Center gala and concert, hosted by broadcaster Soledad O’Brien, the evening of Tuesday, November 10. In addition to a performance by Marsalis’s small group, guests include ballet dancer Misty Copeland, opera singer Lalah Hathaway, and gospel singer Kim Burrell.

Dianne Reeves is one of our finest jazz singers. This Grammy Award-winning artist —coming to the Annenberg’s Zellerbach Theatre on Sunday, November 15 at 7pm — effectively combines elements of jazz improvisation, R & B, pop, soul, and Latin, impressively demonstrated on her most recent recording, her first in five years, voted this year’s Best Jazz Vocal Album, titled Beautiful Life.

South on North Broad and the Clef Club

The city now has a second full-time jazz club, courtesy of the Bynum Brothers of Zanzibar Blue and Paris Bistro fame. South, on North Broad Street near the Divine Lorraine Hotel, will present national and regional jazz acts — along with contemporary southern cuisine — seven nights a week. Pianist Orrin Evans and bassist Gerald Veasley will appear there regularly. National acts booked for November include saxophonist Marion Meadows on Thursday and Friday, November 5 and 6; and Kirk Whalum on Thursday, November 12.

The Philadelphia Clef Club hosts two big events this month. On November 6 at 6pm the club will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a VIP reception and performance. Awards will be given to those who have contributed to our area’s jazz scene, including the Honorable Ed Rendell. After a dinner and the awards ceremony, there will be a mini-concert featuring jazz violin virtuoso Diane Monroe. On Sunday, November 7 at 8pm the Clef Club will present another awards ceremony, this one honoring the winners of the 2015 Clef Club Jazz Awards.

Unique and exploratory

It’s not easy being the child of a musical legend, especially when that child elects to go into the music business (ask Frank Sinatra Jr.). Saxophonist/composer/bandleader Ravi Coltrane, son of the legendary John, has come to jazz on his own terms and in his own way, and paid his dues as a sideman for years before stepping out as a leader. Coltrane will be appearing at Chris’ Jazz Café on the weekend of November 20 and 21 for two shows, at 8 and 10pm. Though Ravi never knew his dad, in that John Coltrane passed when his son was just two, he certainly shows the Coltrane influence — as most working jazz saxophonists do — but he does have an individual style and sound coupled with a repertoire that’s heavy on unique and exploratory originals.

Also in the “unique and exploratory” area is Philadelphia alto saxophonist/composer and bandleader Bobby Zankel. Zankel, a player long ahead of his time with his Warriors of the Wonderful Sound and other ensembles, has been a regular at the Painted Bride since last month. This month, he’ll appear on Wednesday, November 4, for an 8pm show that will feature saxophonist Oliver Lake as special guest. This group, almost a little big band, is comprised of Philadelphia’s finest players, including bassist Lee Smith, pianist Tom Lawton, trumpeters John Swana and Josh Lawrence, and drummer Craig McIver.