Friday, September 23rd, 2016
COLTRANE AT 90 CELEBRATION SCHEDULE / Friday, September 23rd, 2016
Philadelphia Jazz Project, in collaboration with Temple University Libraries, WRTI, PhillyCAM, Jazz Near You and other partners present a celebration of John Coltrane's 90th Birthday with 9 days of FREE events in Philadelphia. These events will take place between September 17th to 25th, 2016.
ALL EVENTS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND FREE OF CHARGE
BUT TO ATTEND, YOU MUST REGISTER AT EVENTBRITE
Friday, September 23rd, 2016 – 12:00pm
Lunchtime Jam: Tribute to John Coltrane & Exhibit Opening
Church of the Advocate
1801 Diamond St, Philadelphia, PA 19121
Temple University Libraries and Charles L. Blockson Collection present an exhibition of John W. Mosley's Jazz photographs which opens at the Church of the Advocate with a celebration and musical performances. Mosley was a prolific and renowned Philadelphia photographer; his images are one of the Blockson Collection's richest visual resources, documenting political, social, and cultural life of the African American community from the 1930s through the 1960.
Friday, September 23rd, 2016 – 6:00pm
Solo Saxophone Tribute & Marathon
Church of the Advocate
1801 Diamond St, Philadelphia, PA 19121
WRTI's, J. Michael Harrison & PJP present a saxophone-centered tribute to John Coltrane. Starting at 6:00PM and running until midnight. The players would include a diverse spectrum of local, regional and international artists, such as James Carter, Bobby Zankel, Carl Grubbs, Greg Osby, Sonny Fortune, Odean Pope, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Julian Pressley, Billy Harper, Mark Allen, Azar Lawrence, Sam Reed, Ole Mathisen, Douglas Ewart, James Brandon Lewis, Nasir Dickerson and others.
"Part of my motivation for the event is to provide a platform that allows the artist to express their love, appreciation and overall understanding of the significance of the contributions of one John William Coltrane. Your horn is your voice. What you say through your horn is up to you. Speak to TRANE, speak to the audience, speak from your heart and soul. That's all I'm asking for with your presentation. There's no rhythm section, just a man and his horn. Doesn't have to be super structured but it can be. Doesn't have to be free and unscripted but it can be. Just play with TRANE in mind." - - - J. Michael Harrison
The Participants:
Yesseh Furaha-Ali is a promising young Philadelphia tenor saxophonist. He is a graduate of Upper Darby High School and a former participant of the prestigious local music programs at the Philadelphia Clef Club and Creative Music Program of the Kimmel Center. He is current a student at Berklee College of Music with a bright and exciting future ahead of him.
Mark Allen is a multi-reed artist from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He teaches saxophone performance and improvisation at the University of the Arts and is an active member of The Norman David Eleventet, Captain Black Big Band, Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, Puzzlebox, Fresh Cut Orchestra and several other Philadelphia/New York ensembles. He has worked with Marcus Belgrave, Wycliffe Gordon, Dick Oatts, Orrin Evans, Frank Lacy, and others.
George Barron is a Philadelphia-area reedman who plays tenor and soprano saxophone. During his career, Barron has played with some of the top names in jazz, including Lonnie Liston Smith, Norman Connors and Pharoah Sanders. He is the performer, author and producer of two fine albums, Emanations and Chasin' the Rubicon, as well as father of two exceptional musicians, Farid Barron- pianist and Jafa Barron - trumpeter.
James Carter is an adventerous, Detroit-born saxophonist. He has been a prominent performer and recording artist on the jazz scene since the late 1980s. He is the leader of his ensembles, but has worked with Lester Bowie, Julius Hemphill, Frank Lowe, Kathleen Battle, the World Saxophone Quartet, Cyrus Chestnut, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater and the Mingus Big Band.
Clef Club Ambassadors are a group of students from the Clef Club education program. The Clef Club was founded in 1966 by Local #274, the longest surviving Black Musicians' Union in the U.S. It's membership included artists like John Coltrane and Dizzy Gillespie. Their highly successful, education program has earned the Clef Club its exceptional reputation boasting alumni such as Joey Defrancesco, Questlove and Christian McBride.
Nasir Dickerson is a Philadelphia-born and Camden, New Jersey-raised musician, educator and mentor. Nasir is a key member of the Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble, which is famous for its electrifying drummers, sensational dancers, exciting acrobatic show, and masquerade. In 2006, Nasir recorded his first Jazz CD - JOURNEY TO FATHERLAND. Nasir Dickerson continues to work with others and as a leader in the Delaware Valley.
Dahi Divine is a Philadelphia born and bred artist, better known for his work as an dynamic tenor saxophonist, prolific composer and jazz bandleader, is exploding onto the contemporary music scene expanding the boundaries of jazz for his generation as an a writer, vocalist, hip hop recording artist, and record producer. His sound is rooted in his jazz studies, the Philadelphia music scene, and is heavily influenced by the hip hop and contemporary music of his time.
Douglas R. Ewart is a Minneapolis-based, multi-instrumentalist, instrument builder, bandleader and visual artist. Ewart is a member and former president of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). He leads his own groups and has worked with Muhal Richard Abrams, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Anthony Braxton, Amina Claudine Myers, Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Cecil Taylor, Henry Threadgill, Hamid Drake, Don Byron and George Lewis.
Sonny Fortune is a Philadelphia born, NYC-based alto saxophonist and flautist. He also plays soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone and clarinet. Over his remarkable career, he has worked with Elvin Jones, Mongo Santamaría, McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Nat Adderley, George Benson, Kenny Barron, Roy Ayers, Oliver Nelson, Rashied Ali, Pharaoh Sanders and others. He has also recorded 16 albums as a leader, including, In The Spirit of John Coltrane in 2000.
Carl Grubbs is saxophonist and a Philadelphia native, who now makes his home in the Baltimore area. He received his early training from John Coltrane, who was married to his cousin, Naima. Carl’s career can best be described as one of diversity; composer, performer, teacher, leader, recording artist and presenter. He has worked the Visitors, Julius Hemphill Saxophone Sextet, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, Lafayette Gilchrist,among many others.
Billy Harper is a Houston, Texas-born and bred tenor saxophonist. He is considered one of the most dynamic of the first generation of Coltrane-influenced tenor saxophonists. Durig his career, he has played with Art Blakey, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Max Roach, Randy Weston, Gil Evans and others. He has been an important Jazz bandleader for over 30 years and has recorded over 20 albums. He is also a founding member of the Cookers.
Azar Lawrence is a California-based jazz saxophonist, known for his contributions as sideman to McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Woody Shaw. Lawrence was the tenor saxophonist Tyner used following John Coltrane's death. He also worked with Earth, Wind & Fire, Frank Zappa and and Marvin Gaye before he left the scene. Since the early 2000’s, Azar Lawrence has returned to his post-Bop Jazz roots and left audiences stunned by his magnificent performances.
James Brandon Lewis is tenor saxophonist from Buffalo, NY. He has worked with Geri Allen, Wallace Roney, Dorinda Clark Cole, Albertina Walker. Alphonso Johnson, William Parker, Ed Shuller, Jason Hwang, Marilyn Crispell, Cooper Moore, and Sabir Mateen. James Brandon Lewis is also a bandleader and has recorded three albums, including the critically acclaimed 2015 project, Days of Freeman.
Rudresh Mahanthappa is a New York-based jazz alto saxophonist and composer. During his career, he has worked with Vijay Iyer, Bunky Green, Joe Viola, Rez Abbasi, Jason Robinson, Danilo Pérez and Jack DeJohnette. Rudresh Mahanthappa has twelve albums out as a leader or co-leader on labels including 2010’s Apex, with Bunky Green.
Ole Mathisen is a Norwegian-born jazz musician and composer, living and working in NYC. He has performed with artists such as Louie Vega, Mino Cinelu, Eddie Gómez, Grady Tate, Claudio Roditi, Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff, Harvie Swartz, Bill Bruford, Kenny Barron, Bob Moses, Hilton Ruiz and others, He is the brother of jazz musicians Per Mathisen (bass), Hans Mathisen (guitar) and Nils Mathisen (keyboards, guitar and bass).
Greg Osby is a saxophonist born in St. Louis, Missouri, who now resides in the Delaware Valley. Over his career he has worked with Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall, Andrew Hill and many others. A recipient of many prestigious awards and grants, Osby is on the faculty of Berklee College of Music and was named Playboy Magazine's "Jazz Artist of the Year" in 2009. Osby has recorded as a leader for JMT, Blue Note Records and now for his own imprint, Inner Circle Music. He has 19 recordings under his name and is an avid lecturer and clinician.
Michael Pedicin Jr. is a Philadelphia-bred jazz saxophonist, producer, composer and educator who has roots in The Sound of Philadelphia movement. The son of a Philly musician, Pedicin is a multi-reed artist who plays three saxes; alto, tenor, and soprano, and has a long experience as a session musician and music director at three Atlantic City Casinos. Michael Pedicin Jr. continues to perform and lead his own band in New York City.
Odean Pope is a Philadelphia tenor saxophonist with personal and artistic connections to John Coltrane, Hasaan Ibn Ali and Jymie Merrit. Pope was a member of the group Catalyst in the early 1970s, and founded the Saxophone Choir, in 1977. He joined Max Roach's quartet in 1979 and remained with him for almost 20 years. As a leader, Odean Pope has recorded over 16 albums including 2009’s, Odean's List.
Julian Pressley is an alto saxophonist, born in Philadelphia who lives in North Jersey. During his career, he's worked with Edgar Bateman, Lionel Hampton, Aretha Franklin, Freddie Hubbard, the Four Tops, Panama Francis' Savoy Sultans, the Temptations, Odean Pope's Saxophone Choir, Warriors of the Wonderful Sound and is currently a member of the JC Hopkins Biggish Band.
Saxophonist Sam Reed has been a leading member of the Philadelphia jazz and music scene for over 60 years. Inspired to play music through his friendship with Albert "Tootie" Heath, the youngest of the Heath Brothers, Mr Reed has played a role in The Uptown Theater years and The Sound of Philadelphia years. Sam Reed has worked with Odean Pope, Teddy Pendergrass and led his own ensembles.
Willie Williams is a tenor saxophonist from Philadelphia, currently living in the North Jersey/NYC area. Over his career he has worked with Art Blakey, Jackie Byard, Sam Rivers, Arthur Taylor, Clifford Jordan’s Big Band, Mingus Dynasty and T.S. Monk. He currently serves as musical director with another Philadelphian, Papo Vázquez’s, Mighty Pirate Orchestra and works and records with his own ensemble
Bobby Zankel is an alto saxophonist and composer. Born in NYC, he came to Philadelphia in 1975 and has been an integral part of the city’s creative music scene ever since. He has worked with Jymie Merritt, Odean Pope, Johnny Coles and others. Zankel has composed and presented three jazz ballets and a jazz opera and he presently performs with the Warriors Of The Wonderful Sound: an ensemble formed to explore the compositions of forward-thinking composers.
PARTNERS:
PJP, in collaboration with Temple University Libraries, Charles L. Blockson Collection, WRTI, PhillyCAM, PA State Senator Vincent Hughes, Free Library of Philadelphia, Jazz Near You, Tri-State Indie, Boom Room Studios/Worldtown Sound System, City of Philadelphia, Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, The Church of the Advocate, The Piazza At Schmidt's Commons, The Fire, Brewerytown Beats, Cratebeats Entertainment, Sonic Liberation Front, Strawberry Mansion NAC, Fairmount Park Conservancy, East Fairmount Park Coalition, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Painted Bride Art Center.
The Coltrane At 90 Celebration was made possible by support from the The Wyncote Foundation / Philadelphia Jazz Project is a sponsored project of CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia, with funding provided by The Wyncote Foundation.
