Jazz Appreciation Month 2017
April was designated as Jazz Appreciation Month by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in 2002 to herald and celebrate the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz and to set out to promote jazz both as an historical and a contemporary art form. The celebration culminates with International Jazz Day on April 30.
Philly Celebrates Jazz April 1-30
The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy leads the City of Philadelphia in Philly Celebrates Jazz. The month-long celebration and shared cultural experience features live performances, neighborhood concerts, exhibitions, discussion panels, and films highlighting Philadelphia’s current vibrant jazz scene, community roots and rich jazz heritage.
If you are a jazz fan from the Philadelphia area or visiting our city, you can catch a gig at many local venues and jazz lounges. Check out Jazz Near You for a comprehensive list of local jazz events during Jazz Appreciation Month.
Mélange Jazz Collective’s performances
We’re excited to be a part of this celebration as we will be performing and attending several concerts during April. Mélange will be featured at Warmdaddy’s and Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant:
April 2, Jazz and Brunch: Mélange Jazz Collective Quartet, Sunday Jazz Brunch, Manayunk Brewery Restaurant, 10:30am -2:30pm (public event).
April 6, Thursday’s Groove Series hosted by Michael Tozzi and iJazzGlobal.com: Mélange Jazz Collective Trio, Warmdaddy’s Happy Hour, 6:00pm-7:15pm, (public event).
A passion for music
“Mélange Jazz Collective is a versatile and inventive Philadelphia ensemble who works in the World Beat, Blues, Funk and Jazz scenes. Together for 10 years this exquisite group of Philly music veterans quietly creates great music and excitement whenever and where ever they perform.” Philadelphia Jazz Project
Our musical artists always look for new creative horizons and challenge themselves artistically. Their latest track recording, “Sunday Sermon on Mars”, a soulful and funky composition by bassist Bert Harris (dedication to Sun Ra) recorded with Mélange Jazz Collective’s fresh and creative sounds, is part of the newly released album, “For the Love of Germantown”.
Mélange Jazz Collective’s featured artists in this album include Laurent Bass on tenor saxophone; Bert Harris on bass; Steve Strawitz on guitar; Kimpedro Rodriguez on drums.
Read more on Mélange Jazz Collective’s project in collaboration with Philadelphia Jazz Project and Germantown United Community Corporation.
For the Love of Germantown
‘Philadelphia is home to strong musical traditions like Jazz, Gospel, Doo-Wop, R&B, Rock and Hip-Hop. Our greatest strength has been the unexpected and wonderful blending and swirling of these traditions into new and fascinating musical creations. One place where this magic happens is Germantown. This community in the Northwestern region of Philadelphia was and continues to be a neighborhood rich in culture, history and diversity. Many renowned Philadelphia musicians, writers, visual artists, media makers and dancers grew up, or made their homes in Germantown.
In the Spring of 2016, PJP began a collaboration with Germantown United Community Development Corporation [GUCDC] and a group of talented Germantown musicians. The task: To record and produce a compelling CD, as a fundraiser for GUCDC. The goal: To celebrate the historical cultural strength and diversity of the Germantown community.
We used three recording studios including Boom Room Studios, Spice House Sound and Germantown’s Rittenhouse Soundworks. We reached out to more than a twenty musicians, vocalists and poets seeking participants for this project.’
The culminating CD, entitled, “For the Love of Germantown” and released on October 30th 2016, is a compilation of nine great Jazz, Blues and Soul performances of new and classic songs.’
The CD is available on GUCDC’s website. All proceeds go to Germantown United CDC’s work to support arts and culture as a means to build community and economic opportunity. Enjoy listening!
Philadelphia Real Book
The Real Book has been, for many years, the go-to resource for jazz musicians playing jazz standards and classics from the Great American Songbook. Thanks to the initiative and efforts of Jazz Bridge, Philadelphia has now its own Real Book.
Philadelphia Real Book is a compilation of original music from a diversity of contemporary and past Jazz composers and artists with roots in Philadelphia.
Congratulations to our musicians, bassist Bert Harris and guitarist Steve Strawitz, whose compositions will be included in the forthcoming Volume II of Philadelphia Real Book.
March Event Highlight
Bringing the Jazz experience
A wonderful cocktail reception with a touch of Jazz marked the end of a busy conference day for our client and guests at the Pennsylvania Convention Center at the beginning of March. We were excited to have the opportunity to add a jazzy musical backdrop and bring the Philly Jazz experience to the event with the sounds of Mélange Jazz Collective. Our trio featured Laurent Bass on saxophone, Bert Harris on bass and Walter Runge on keyboard. It was a pleasure to work with our client and with PA Convention Center’s professional staff.
Music Agenda and Calendar of Events
March 2, Mélange Jazz Collective Trio, Warmdaddy’s, Thursday Happy Hour hosted by Michael Tozzi and Ijazzglobal.com, 6:00pm-7:15pm, (public event).
March 5, Mélange Jazz Collective, Sunday Jazz Brunch, Manayunk Brewery Restaurant, 10:30am – 2:30pm (public event).
March 7, Mélange Jazz Collective Trio, Pennsylvania Convention Center (private event).
March 16, Mélange Jazz Collective Trio, Warmdaddy’s, Thursday Happy Hour hosted by Michael Tozzi and Ijazzglobal.com, 6:00pm-7:15pm, (public event).
March 25, Bert Harris Trio, Paris Wine Bar, Wine and Jazz, Philly Wine Week, 9:00pm – 12:00am (public event)
April 2, Mélange Jazz Collective, Sunday Jazz Brunch, Manayunk Brewery Restaurant, 10:30am – 2:30pm (public event).
April 6, Mélange Jazz Collective Trio, Warmdaddy’s, Thursday Happy Hour hosted by Michael Tozzi and ijazzglobal.com, 6:00pm-7:15pm, (public event).
April 14, Jazz Night: Melange Jazz Collective Trio, Bala Golf Club http://www.balagolfclub.com/ Members’ event, 6:00pm-9:00pm (private event).
April 14, Piano Soloist, Union League (private event).
May 4, Mélange Jazz Collective Trio, Warmdaddy’s, Thursday Happy Hour hosted by Michael Tozzi and Ijazzglobal.com, 6:00pm-7:15pm, (public event).
May 7, Mélange Jazz Collective, Sunday Jazz Brunch, Manayunk Brewery Restaurant, 10:30am – 2:30pm (public event).
May 12, 2017, Mélange Jazz Collective Trio (sax, bass, keyboard), (private event).
May 13, 2017, Soloists, The Hyatt at The Bellevue (private event).
May 13, 2017, Soloist, The Ritz-Carlton (private event).
May 14, 2017, Mélange Jazz Collective Trio (sax/keyboard/bass), (private event).
May 20, Mélange Jazz Duo (tenor sax and upright bass), http://stocktonfarmmarket.com/, 12:00pm – 3:00pm (public event).
June 1, Mélange Jazz Collective Trio, Warmdaddy’s, Thursday Happy Hour hosted by Michael Tozzi and Ijazzglobal.com, 6:00pm-7:15pm, (public event).
June 4, Mélange Jazz Collective, Sunday Jazz Brunch, Manayunk Brewery Restaurant, 10:30am – 2:30pm (public event).
June 7, Laurent Bass & MïxT BeatZ, Fleisher Art Memorial, Founder’s Award Celebration.
August 25, Mélange Jazz Collective, Jazz Night Bala Golf Club (private event).
Join us in celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month and Philadelphia vibrant Jazz scene!
Danielle
Danielle Rion-Bass
International Event Professional
Event Leadership Executive Cert., Temple University
School of Tourism and Hospitality Management
PHL Certified Hospitality Professional
LB ENTERTAINMENT LLC
www.lbentertainmentintl.com
Booking: Danielle@LBEntertainmentintl.com
Contemporary Jazz . Electro . Classical