January 16–23, 1997

best bets

Jazz

By a.d. amorosi & Ludwig Van Trikt

Jan. 19: Edgar Bateman/Fred Adams.2 p.m. workshop, 3 p.m. performance, Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave., 387-1911. Fred Adams is a playful open-minded brass man who gigged for 12 years with spaceman Sun Ra and his Arkestra and is the brass instructor/coach for the Clef Club's Youth Jazz Ensemble. Drummer Edgar Bateman is an innovative polyrhythmic monster; a cross between William Hooker, Bill Bruford and Max Roach. Bateman's credits include gigging with local legend Jamaaladeen Tacuma plus touring and recording with lesser lights like John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Eric Dolphy and Lee Morgan. With on-the-spot interpretation from actress Matt Rochester (from Freedom Theatre) and backing from saxophonist Terry Lawson, bassist Mikal Saunders, percussionist Frank Williams and guitarist Calvin Nathaniel, the afternoon promises to be a learning free-for-all.

—a.d. amorosi

Jan. 19: Celebration with Terence Blanchard. Trudy Pitts, "Mr. C" & Friends, the Clayton White Singers and special guests, African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, Lancaster & Overbrook Aves., 893-9912 or 473-3065. As a studious griot of sorts, composer/trumpeter Terence Blanchard has taken traditional jazz ideals and made them blue and intelligently sensual, added twists from another world and stretched them to symphonic proportions with a series of soundtracks and suites surrounding the films of Spike Lee. This opportunity to see the magical Blanchard in such intimate surroundings should not be missed.

—a.d.a.

Feb. 11: The Michael Brecker Quintet. Theater of Living Arts, 334 South St., 922-1011. It's been an amazing two-year period for tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker. The renowned pop/jazz/funk session player has made real strides with his heralded position in the usually snobby jazz world by concentrating on prime backing gigs with an amazing trio of diverse pianists: working behind Herbie Hancock on New Standards, McCoy Tyner on Infinity and Horace Silver on Hard Bop/Grand Bop. No sooner than he's finished those jams, Brecker decides to head up his first unit and record under his name — something he hasn't done in at least five years — and record the magical Tales From The Hudson (Impulse), which was recently nominated for two Grammys. That Brecker and this tour features such an illuminati of musicians is a sign that Michael — often in the shadow of trumpet playing brother Randy — has truly arrived.

—a.d.a.

Feb. 13-16: 1997 PECO Energy Jazz Festival.Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum, 7th & Arch Sts. and WHYY Forum Theater, 6th & Arch Sts., 636-1666. It's ironic that this event of over 100 jazz events and four headline concerts supports the Afro-American Museum, for in bone-headed decision-making, the AAHCM tossed it's "Jazz Live" series. A wee bit of redemption is on hand when "Jazz 'til Sunrise" is produced by the Afro-American Museum. An eight-hour potpourri of regional jazz, including: TheSunRaArkestra led by Marshall Allen, Kasangala,Insynk,Flight Crew Band,Denise King Quartet, the acid jazz of Jophar Barron Boptet and a 1997 Living Legend of Jazz Award to Johnny Coles. "Jazz 'til Sunrise" is the ultimate all-nighter.

PECO lines up a Thursday, Feb. 13 "Piano Summit" in WHYY's Forum Theater. Ella Fitzgerald once called Tommy Flanagan a "genius." Flanagan is the real deal of bebop hegemony. Philly's own Kenny Barron and Shirley Scott round out this ivory key summit.

—Ludwig Van Trikt

Feb. 14-15: Ravi Coltrane Trio with trumpeter John Swana.Bistro Bix, 114 S. 12th St., 925-5336. While the second of three Coltrane sons may share the name and even the face of the father, 32-year-old Ravi's sound is purposely more diverse, jumping in tone from fury to warmth and not quite as textural. His intent, too, is less searching, which gives the work an airy feel.

—a.d.a.

Feb. 16: "Ella: A Celebration."Academy of Music, Broad & Locust Sts., 893-1999. Featuring the George Shearing Trio, Betty Carter and Trio following the acclaim of her recurring "I'm Yours, You're Mine," and one of the true ambassadors of jazz, Clark Terry. All in all, a show befitting a diva!

—L.V.T.

Feb. 23: Sonny Fortune Quartet.Zanzibar Blue, Broad & Walnut Sts., lower level of the Bellevue, 732-5200. It only took the Blue Note label 55 years before they found Philadelphia saxophone legend Sonny Fortune and signed him to contract in 1994. Three years and three records later — his newest disc being the dynamic From Now On — Fortune is as always a versatile alto saxophonist/flutist. He can play deceptively simple lines of melody with sinewy strength or he can take complicated arrangements and straighten them out with minimalist elegance.

—a.d.a.

March 7-9: Oscar Brown Jr. Zanzibar Blue. Singer/playwright/composer Oscar Brown Jr. tells realistic, often playful, but sorrowful tales about growing up and out in burgeoning Black America — funny parables like the jive analogies of "Signifying Monkey" or the simmering blue jazz sadness of "Somebody Buy Me a Drink."

—a.d.a.

March 8: Hannibal Peterson.Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., 925-9914. Trumpeter Hannibal Peterson's career reads like a wilderness survival guide: early work with Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Gil Evans Orchestra; damn-near starving in NYC and almost dying from double pneumonia; a magical trip to the Masai in Africa and subsequent spiritual renewal. All of this is the basis of his African Portraits opus and Diary of an African American, two major pieces performed throughout the United States and Europe. Hannibal is sure to excerpt a few compositions of these works with his band featuring John Hicks on piano, Lonnie Plexico on bass, and Cecil Brooks III on drums.

—L.V.T.

March 8: Leon Bates.International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 895-6537. The Folklife Center at the International House launches a concert series for children ages 6 to 12 with "Everybody Makes Music!" One of the highlights finds master pianist Leon Bates in concert comparing classical Western music with traditional jazz styles. Bates is a Philadelphia native who had his early training at Settlement Music School; his lineage can be traced back to Nately Hinderaf — the first black soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Hinderaf spawned a generation of black classical players including Horatio Miller and Judith Willoughby. But what separates Bates from the crowd is his capacity for both lyricism, color and flamboyance.

—L.V.T.

March 16: Tom Lawton/Ben Schachter.Montgomery County Community College, Rt. 202, Morris Rd., Blue Bell, 641-6300.

Pianist Lawton has a subversive wit where he drops time signatures, deconstructs tunes and banters about on the piano. Saxophonist Schachter can evoke the dark hues of Joe Henderson or Wayne Shorter all in an original and compelling style. Bassist Matt Parrish and drummer Tom Cowan complete the quartet.

—L.V.T.

March 16: Freddy Cole. Zanzibar Blue. With unassuming manner and smoky tones comes vocalist Freddy Cole, another singer/piano player in a long line of like-minded Coles. Sure, his brothers may be Ike and that Nat guy who did "Nature Boy," but youngest brother Freddy has a more dramatic feel to his singing and playing; an almost cabaret-ish elan.

—a.d.a.