The Jazz Scene: Fall festivals, big tributes, and more

The Philadelphia United Jazz Festival is a new event for the city, and it will take place in four venues and run from September 14 to 18. Concerts will be presented at South Jazz Parlor, Warmdaddy’s, Paris Bistro, and Relish, and while there are no national names among the performers, the United Festival will feature the best of regional artists, including pianist Eric Mintel’s Quartet, the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble’s tribute to John Coltrane, bassist Gerald Veasley’s fusion band, guitarist Rich Tucker, and a plethora of superb vocalists, including Denise Montana and Lisa Chavous. The full schedule is available here.

Meanwhile, Medford, NJ has its own jazz fest. The Pinelands Jazz Festival runs from September 16 to September 18 on a number of stages. Artists include singers Michelle Lordi and Paula Johns, The Django Reinhardt-inspired Hot Club of Philadelphia, and saxophonists Denis DiBlasio and Larry McKenna.

Singer/pianist Freddy Cole, younger brother of the late Nat “King” Cole, used to be a frequent visitor to this area, mainly in Atlantic City casino lounges. Freddy, now 84 years of age (though you’d never know it), will always be compared to his legendary brother, but the fact is, the younger Cole is a superb artist in his own right. He will appear at South Jazz Parlor on September 22 and September 23. Shows are at 8 and 10pm each evening.

Jazz in Ardmore, the Northeast, and at Temple

Jazz can be heard in some pretty off-the-wall places from time to time. Famed fusion guitarist John Scofield and his all-star band of fusionists — bassist Steve Swallow, drummer Bill Stewart, and keyboardist Larry Goldings — check into that bastion of rock and roll, the Ardmore Music Hall, on September 24. Scofield is calling this tour “Country for Old Men.” Showtime is 7pm.

Dixieland at a Jewish deli? You betcha. Trumpeter Al Harrison has been bringing his all-star band of traditional stompers to Jack’s Deli in Northeast Philadelphia — 8500 Bustleton Avenue — on and off for years, and it’s always a toe-tapping affair. Harrison and his group will appear at Jack’s on September 14 for a 6:30pm show that includes dinner. For advance reservations, call 215-518-2001.

Veteran saxophonist Larry McKenna has been on the area scene since anyone can remember. He’s a tasty, sensitive swinger and plays in a style not heard often enough these days. McKenna will appear with his quartet — pianist Tom Lawton, bassist Mike Boone, and drummer Dan Monoghan — for a special performance at the Temple University Performing Arts Center on September 8 for a free performance that begins at 4:30pm. Here’s the full Thursday night jazz lineup at Temple in September.

A debut and a tribute

Jill Salkin is a versatile and first-rate singer who is as much at home with jazz as she is with pop and other genres. Through the years, however, she has not been heard often enough in live performance, but that is fortunately changing. She appears often at Paris Bistro & Jazz Club in Chestnut Hill, and on September 28, will be making her debut at Chris’ Jazz Café for shows at 8 and 10pm.

Vocalist Lizz Wright is an internationally known performer and best-selling recording artist. At the Kimmel on September 30 at 8pm., Wright will front “Jazz 100,” a special show celebrating the 100th birthday of artists such as Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald. Accompanying Wright is a group of certifiable stars, including saxophonist Chris Potter, trumpeter Avishai Cohen, and trombonist Wycliffe Gordon.