The Jazz Scene: Awards, anniversaries, and echoes of Dizzy Gillespie

The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and the Performing Arts has been one of the foundations of the Philadelphia jazz community for 50 years. Indeed, when the organization moved to its present location at Broad and Fitzwater Streets in 1995, it became the nation’s first designated jazz institution. And it’s more active than ever in terms of presenting educational and community outreach programs and live performances. For more than 30 years, former president and now managing director Don Gardner, a long-time jazz educator/musician has been, as the Clef Club puts it, “simply committed to moving the Clef Club forward.” On April 22, this jazz giant and contributor received — deservedly — the prestigious Jazz Journalists Association “Philadelphia Jazz Hero” Award, given annually to those who make significant achievements in jazz music and journalism.

In the mid-1940s, trumpet genius Dizzy Gillespie became the first to fuse jazz with influences of Afro-Cuban music. Others, including Stan Kenton, of all people, helped popularize the jazz/Latin fusion, and that remains a mainstay of improvisational music. Tres master (tres is the Cuban version of the guitar) Juan de Marcos — and his Afro-Cuban All-Stars — effectively combine elements of jazz, including bolero, cha-cha, salsa, son montuno, timba, guajira, danzón, rumba, and abakua, and the result is inventive, exciting, and entertaining. This fine outfit checks into the Annenberg’s Zellerbach Theater on May 7 for an 8pm show.

There is no shortage of swinging jam sessions in the city and suburbs, and one of the newest is headed by the versatile saxophonist Victor North. North and his trio or quartet are the backbone of these fun sessions at Heritage — 914 N. 2nd Street in Northern Liberties — beginning at 9pm on the first and third Thursday of each month.

The Philadelphia Jazz Project is another local organization that consistently presents unique and innovative programs with a jazz orientation. On May 6, PJP will present what they call the “First Friday Rent Party,” featuring one of the region’s busiest and best jazz singers, V. Shayne Frederick. The performance takes place at the Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch Street, at 8pm.

On May 23, “Mysterious Travelers 2: Great Migrations” is a PJP celebration of the past century’s brave journey of African Americans to Philadelphia from the South, a major part of our city’s rich musical heritage. This program, presented in conjunction with the Music Department of the Central Library, takes place on May 23 at 7pm at Montgomery Auditorium at the Parkway Central Library, and features the progressive drumming of one-time Sun Ra drummer Kim Pedro.

Jazz it Up Philly has brought live jazz to venues that never had live music before, including the Vesper Club, Stratus Rooftop Lounge, and on a regular basis — every Thursday evening from 8 to 10pm — to Bar Volver within the Kimmel Center.

Congratulations are in order for Philadelphia’s venerable and venerated Chris’ Jazz Café, one of the nation’s top jazz clubs, as it celebrates its 25th anniversary on the weekend of May 6-7.