The Jazz Scene: Love notes and the new Allentown Jazz Festival

For more than two years, the Philadelphia Jazz Project (PJP) has presented programs in dozens of area venues that have encompassed virtually every style of jazz. On February 14, Valentine’s Day, PJP will present “Love Notes,” which will feature two of our region’s finest vocalists. James Solomon and V. Shayne Frederick (also one of the producers) will perform at The Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch Street, Philadelphia, for a 7:30pm show. Tickets are $25, and that includes parking and refreshments. On February 28 at the International House, PJP will present “Another Holiday for Skins: A Drum Celebration,” featuring the crème of Philadelphia percussionists. The drummers are Pablo Batista, Doc Gibbs, Ron Howerton, Robert Kenyatta, Christian Gabriel Noguera, Charlie Patierno, and Khary Abdul Shaheed. Tickets for the 8pm show ($15) are available online.

Call this one “Holiday for Strings.” On February 7, the Hot Club of Philadelphia will celebrate the birthday of legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt at Roller’s Restaurant in Chestnut Hill, 8142 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia. The Hot Club, formed by guitarist Barry Wahrhaftig in 2001 with a focus on the music of Reinhardt, will be joined by special guest guitarist Howard Alden, best known for his work on the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack of Woody Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown. Also guesting is the wonderful Phyllis Chapell, who will be singing songs from the era. Don’t be surprised if she joins in on guitar as well. Show begins at 8pm; tickets are available online.

Pianist/singer/composer Diana Krall is one of the few jazz musicians whose appeal extends way beyond the jazz audience. This is why she has been able to fill large showrooms, including Caesars in Atlantic City, where she will appear on February 28. Despite some gimmicky recent recordings repertoire-wise, there’s improvisational validity and creativity at the highest level no matter what she plays or sings. For those who want to see Krall closer to home, she’ll appear with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Center on July 24. Tickets go on sale at 10am on February 6 through the Mann Center.

While Philadelphia has yet to attract a nationally-sponsored, multi-day jazz festival, neighboring boroughs like Reading’s Berks County fest and the just-announced Allentown Jazz Festival (AJF) are taking up the slack. AJF is the brainchild of attorney and jazz drummer Bryan Tuk, who is the President/CEO of the event. The artistic director is guitarist Frank DiBussolo. Response to the announcement of the fest has been so overwhelming that what was first conceived as a May 1 to May 3 event in one venue is quickly turning into a multi-day fest in various locations. Signed for the AJF thus far are master drummer Jojo Mayer and the quartet of pianist Eric Mintel.

The Fresh Cut Orchestra is a 10-piece instrumental ensemble led by Josh Lawrence, one of the hottest trumpeters on the scene; bassist Jason Fraticelli; and drummer Anwar Marshall. This cutting-edge band will celebrate the release of their first CD, Ropeadope Records’ From the Vine, at an 8pm show on February 18; performance upstairs at World Café Live.

Irvin Mayfield is a Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and jazz educator who is a passionate advocate for the music of New Orleans. The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, which he founded in 2002, will play their singular brand of happy music — and celebrate Mardi Gras — in their Philadelphia debut at the Kimmel Center on February 17 for a 7:30pm performance.

Two legends meet in a program called “Barry and Larry,” meaning tenor saxophonist Larry McKenna and pianist Barry Harris. McKenna is billed as a special guest with Harris in a performance that will take place February 8 at William Patterson University in Wayne, NJ for a 4pm concert. Advance tickets are available online.

At right: Irvin Mayfield, coming to the Kimmel on February 17.

Correction: Michael Ricci’s allaboutjazz.com was founded in 1995, not 2003 as previously reported. Click here for the updated article.