Welcome to Moment’s Notice, WRTI’s weekly digest of jazz listings in the Philadelphia area, now in Beta. This feature is coming soon, but first we thought we'd give it a trial run. Drop us a line to let us know what you think!
Spotlight: Duane Eubanks Quintet - Saturday
He isn’t the most famous jazz musician in his family, but Duane Eubanks has a sterling reputation as a trumpeter-bandleader — not to mention his impressive track record as a sideman in New York, with the likes of Dave Holland and Mulgrew Miller. His story began here in Philadelphia, and he hasn’t been a stranger over the years. You might even say there’s a discernible Philly attitude on a swinging album like his Live at Smalls, released in 2018. Of course, that truth will be even more self-evident during a hometown gig with Victor North on tenor saxophone, Jordan Williams on piano, Madison Rast on bass and Eric McPherson on drums.
July 15 at 8 and 10 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $30-$100, with dinner packages; purchase tickets.
Kenny G - Monday at Ocean City Music Pier, Tuesday at the Keswick Theatre
Look, we aren’t here to pick a fight. The pied piper of smooth jazz has been a divisive figure for as long as the format first coalesced, and you surely already know how you feel. Let’s just add that the 2021 doc film Listening to Kenny G (now streaming on Max) is worth your time even if you think its subject is a scourge. If you’re among those who think otherwise, you should know that Kenny G’s current tour rolls into our area this week. The set list draws both from his recent album, New Standards, and platinum throwbacks like Breathless and Silhouette.
July 10 at 7 p.m., Ocean City Music Pier, NJ, $79; purchase tickets. July 11 at 8 p.m., Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA, $45-$75; purchase tickets.
Hailey Brinnel - Tuesday at Notsolatin
Philadelphia’s own Hailey Brinnel is the proverbial triple threat: an accomplished trombonist who has also earned high praise for her singing, and growing acclaim for her songwriting. On her agreeable new album, Beautiful Tomorrow, she marshals all the skills at her disposal, and calls in a couple of favors — welcoming a guest turn from trumpeter Terell Stafford, a former mentor at Temple’s Boyer College of Music and Dance. She’ll lead a congress of her peers in a casual setting, at the Notsolatin house concert series in South Philly.
July 11 at 7 p.m., Notsolatin Jazz Series, 1440 W. Ritner Street, $10 suggested donation.
Jonathan Butler and Gerald Albright - Friday, Rivers Casino
Jonathan Butler has a new album, Ubuntu, that showcases his surefooted charm as a guitarist and singer-songwriter, nodding toward his South African roots; produced by Marcus Miller, it boasts cameos by Keb’ Mo’ and Stevie Wonder. For this appearance at the Rivers Casino, he’ll share a bill with a veteran collaborator — saxophonist and smooth-jazz pioneer Gerald Albright, whose most recent release is G-Stream 2 Turn It Up, a three-song EP.
July 14 at 8 p.m., Rivers Casino, 1001 N. Delaware Avenue, $49; purchase tickets.
Dave Posmontier Quartet - Friday, Chris’ Jazz Cafe
A stalwart on the Philly scene, keyboardist Dave Posmontier carries a torch for the soul jazz and hard-bop traditions, on recent albums like Cockpit Casual: The Germantown Session and in his work as an educator. For this one-nighter at Chris’, he leads a quartet with saxophonist Bob Howell, bassist Dave Brodie and drummer Doug Hirlinger.
July 14 at 8 and 10 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom Street, $25-$95, with dinner packages; purchase tickets.