Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a city that is home to a vibrant jazz scene, with a variety of festivals, workshops, and educational events taking place throughout the year. From the annual Lancaster Avenue jazz and art festival in Saunders Park to the Sunset Jazz outdoor pavilion on the top floor, there is something for everyone. For those looking to further their jazz education, the Jazz Port Townsend workshop is an excellent opportunity. The lineup of performers at Sunset Jazz is always impressive, featuring local and visiting professional jazz musicians.
Jazz Maui also presents “A Tribute to Chick Corea”, in honor of the late great jazz pianist. Philly Celebrates Jazz is an event that includes more than 100 jazz events across the city. Despite the heat, thousands of people gather throughout the day to explore local vendors, enjoy street food stalls, participate in activities for children, and listen to back-to-back jazz performances. Now in its 17th year, HopePhL featured Philadelphia musicians at its annual Lancaster Avenue jazz and art festival in Saunders Park. This summer, Sunset Jazz presents a stellar lineup of local and visiting professional jazz musicians in the outdoor pavilion on the top floor, from 5 to 7 on Sundays.
Different artists perform every week and the music is always top notch. Developed in 1979, Jazz Port Townsend workshop is open to instrumentalists and singers of school age and above. Approximately 200 participants focus on developing improvisation skills in small groups. More than 30 world-class teachers give masterclasses and performances every day, all of them carefully selected by artistic director John Clayton. The week culminates with a series of concerts in which all participants have the opportunity to perform. The lineup of performers at Sunset Jazz is always impressive.
Bryan has played with his jazz band at the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival since the festival's first year. Sarah Black is a contemporary jazz and soul vocalist from the West Coast who began her professional career in San Diego. A native of New York, Louise Lambert is an internationally acclaimed vocalist, pianist, composer and conductor who left Toronto for Maui in 1997, and plays at concerts, clubs, weddings and special events in Canada, the United States and Europe. Thomas has just finished his third year at SUNY Purchase and, as a student of trumpet legend Jon Faddis, he plays principal trumpet in both the Purchase Jazz Orchestra and the Purchase Latin Jazz Orchestra. Auditions are required for in-person participants of the instrumental or vocal theme workshop at Jazz Port Townsend.
In addition to collaborating with some of the most talented emerging musicians of his generation, he had the opportunity to work closely with established jazz legends Rufus Reid, Billy Childs and Steve Wilson. He studied jazz and played with artists such as Gerry Niewood, Bill Evans, Michael Paulo and Jeff Kashiwa. Jazz Maui, a nonprofit organization, provides opportunities for students of all ages to participate in the education and performance of high-quality jazz music. As a new business owner and resident of West Philadelphia, Preito expressed her opinion on street vending at the festival.
