Here’s Your Official Guide to the 2016 Center City Jazz Festival

Here’s Your Official Guide to the 2016 Center City Jazz Festival

The Center City Jazz Festival is excited to announce acclaimed musicians with various jazz styles will be performing on Saturday, April 30 from1:00pm – 7:00pm. The final artist line-up includes Grammy-nominated singer, Gretchen Parlato with Taylor Eigsti; rising star harpist, Brandee Younger; Orrin Evans & The Captain Black Big Band; Chris Oatts and Tim Green, among others. High res photos and musician bios are available.

This is the fifth year for the Center City Jazz Festival which is held during Jazz Appreciation Month. The jam-packed schedule features 20 bands performing at five venues over six hours, all within walking distance of each other in the heart of Center City.  Below is the schedule with complete list of performers.

Philadelphia musicians performing at the Center City Jazz Festival include: Orrin Evans; Chris Oatts; The Jost Project; Nasir Dickerson; Mike Cemprola; Killiam Shakespeare; Anna Cecilia; Muscle Tough; Three Oranges and Chrome Els.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. One ticket provides access to all performances. The last two years shows were sold out prior to the festival. Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance at www.ccjazzfest.com.

Check Out the Full List of Artists and Showtimes Below

FERGIE’S PUB 

1214 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

1:00-2:00pm   Mike Cemprola

2:30-3:30 pm   Nasir Dickerson

4:00-5:00 pm   Ideal Bread w/special guest Dave Ballou

5:30-6:30pm   Chris Oatts

Musician Backgrounders – link takes you directly to their website

*Dave Ballou – Trumpeter, Improviser, Composer and Teacher, Ballou has released nine CDs.  Berklee College of Music alum currently is an Associate Professor of Music at Towson University.  http://bit.ly/25LIYYi

*Mike Cemprola – South Philly musician is an award-winning saxophonist and University of the Arts alum and faculty member. http://bit.ly/1S8yYhx

*Nasir Dickerson – Philadelphia musician is Artistic Director and Music Director for the “Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble.” He has a 6^th degree master black belt in Martial Arts. http://bit.ly/1UTBcIz

*Ideal Bread with special guest Dave Ballou – Brooklyn based Ideal Bread draws its inspiration from Steve Lacy’s rarely covered repertoire. http://bit.ly/1q4hBbc

*Chris Oatts – South Philadelphia saxophone player, Temple University grad and third-generation jazz musician—his uncle is the legendary Dick Oatts.

FRANKY BRADLEY’S 

1320 Chancellor Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
1:00-2:00pm    The Kimmel Center’s Creative Music Program
2:30-3:30pm    Three Oranges
4:00-5:00pm   Josh Evans
5:30-6:30pm   Orrin Evans & The Captain Black Big Band

Musician Backgrounders – link takes you directly to their website

*Josh Evans – Trumpet player prodigy mentored by celebrated composer/educator, Jackie McLean. Toured with the Winard Harper Sextet and The Rashied Ali Quintet. http://bit.ly/1MbueLS

*Orrin Evans & The Captain Black Big Band –Philadelphia pianist/composer has collaborated with a who’s who of modern jazz. With 25 albums to his credit, with a style influenced from soul-jazz, R&B and rock. http://bit.ly/1RELsl4

*Three Oranges – Philadelphia-based band draws its inspiration from the vast range of Philly music, combining jazz, soul, fusion and classical music.

U-BAHN PHILLY

1320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
1:15-2:15pm  Chrome ELS

2:45-3:45pm David Gibson
4:15-5:15pm Killiam Shakespeare
5:45-6:45pm Tim Green

Musician Backgrounders – link takes you directly to their website

*Chrome ELS – Philadelphia-based R&B fusion trio met while attending the University of the Arts. The band is releasing their self-titled record in May 2016.  http://bit.ly/1WcuJYi

*David Gibson – New York trombonist and composer has performed in acclaimed NY jazz clubs, member of Captain Black Big Band and has taught at SUNY Geneseo, Columbia University and New School University. http://bit.ly/22apXdt

*Tim Green – Saxophonist/composer/arranger, Green was called a “player to watch” by Jazz Times. A Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz grad he has played with a wide range of artists including Christian McBride. http://bit.ly/1MQIJ7R

*Killiam Shakespeare – Philadelphia-based band blends soul, jazz and R&B into their repertoire; have produced, recorded and toured with Jill Scott, Jazmine Sullivan and Kindred the Family Soul, among others. Band members are alum from University of the Arts in Philadelphia and Harvard. http://bit.ly/1q5cCqy

MILKBOY-PHILADELPHIA

1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

1:30-2:30pm   Ryan Keberle and Catharsis
3:00-4:00pm   Anna Cecilia
4:30-5:30pm   The Jost Project
6:00-7:00pm   Gretchen Parlato & Taylor Eigsti

Musician Backgrounders – link takes you directly to their website

*Anna Cecilia – Philadelphia vocalist shines with music from the American Songbook, 50’s and 60’s ballads and originals. She has performed at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, among others. http://bit.ly/1ozCOss

*The Jost Project – Philadelphia-based band incorporates innovative jazz arrangements to classic rock/pop classics. The musicians also teach at University of the Arts in Philadelphia.http://bit.ly/1S0LjKL

*Ryan Keberle and Catharsis – Brooklyn-based Keberle was recently named #1 Rising Star Trombonist in Downbeat’s annual critics poll. He’s Director of Jazz Studies at Hunter College of CUNY and recently performed on Super Bowl pre-game show.  http://bit.ly/239BjEc

*Gretchen Parlato – New York-based jazz vocalist is a Grammy nominee for Best Jazz Vocal Album “Live In NYC.” She is a past winner of the Thelonious Monk International Vocal Competition. She is an instructor of jazz voice at Manhattan School of Music in NYC. http://bit.ly/1RDlVbT

*Taylor Eigsti – New York-based pianist and composer is performing with Gretchen Parlato at the Center City Jazz Festival. Two time Grammy nominee for Best Jazz Solo and Best Instrumental Composition for “Lucky to Be Me,” tours extensively with various jazz artists also composes music for various symphony orchestras.  http://www.tayjazz.com/

TIME RESTAURANT 

1315 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
1:45-2:45pm Anibal Rojas
3:15-4:15pm Masami Kuroki
4:45-5:45pm  Muscle Tough
6:15-7:15pm  Brandee Younger

Musician Backgrounder – link takes you directly to their website 

*Anibal Rojas – A native of Santiago, Chile, the New Jersey-based saxophonist plays music infused with the rhythmic drive of the Latin beat and the soul of R&B, has performed with Ralph Irizzary & Timbalaye. http://bit.ly/1XfN318

*Masami Kuroki – Born in Nagasaki, the Berklee College of Music alum is a famed guitarist. He has performed with Mike Boone, Tim Warfield and Orrin Evans, among others.http://bit.ly/1q4e8cK

*Muscle Tough –Philadelphia based trio blends modal jazz, funk, and psychedelia. They held a monthly residency at TIME in 2015 and in 2016 will release their first EP. http://bit.ly/1WcuJYi

*Brandee Younger – New York-based rising star harpist blends a serene blend of jazz and genres including funk and hip hop. She recently garnered glowing reviews from the New York Times and WNPR. http://bit.ly/1Wa8jXM